Builders have been using polystyrene-type blocks during construction on a block of apartments near St Lawrence Mews in the North Harbour.

But residents say their gardens are covered in hundreds of thousands of tiny polystyrene balls which have blown over from the building.

And local councillor for Sovereign, Michael Bloom, who lives nearby and whose own garden is full of the tiny particles, says he is worried at the environmental impact and questions how long it takes for them to break down.

The blocks are used for insulation because they are lightweight, versatile and low cost but when they are sanded down or cut, they break up into thousands of particles.

"We get a liberation of particles in the garden or out in the harbour every time the blocks are cut or rubbed down," said Councillor Bloom.

"The biggest issue is these tiny particles will be sitting here in the environment for possibly hundreds of years until they break down and when they do finally break down, it's an environmental time bomb. How long will it be before they get into the food chain?"

Councillor Bloom is calling on builders to review the way in which they work with the blocks and has suggested that industrial vacuums are fitted to sanders or cutters so the particles can be disposed of.

He is also calling for environmental health officers to investigate possible breachs of nuisance legislation.

An Eastbourne Borough Council spokesperson said, "The council is aware that a site within the harbour is utilising polystyrene blocks within the construction. The polystyrene product has been assessed by the Building Research Establishment as meeting the required quality standard for the specified use. Whilst the product meets the BRE certification standard, a number of small polystyrene beads have been blown off site.

"Council officers are in contact with the contractor who has today agreed to take further steps to prevent the beads from escaping from within the site area.

"Whilst there is no evident public health risk, steps being taken by the contractor will include double netting the site boundary and purchase of an industrial vacuum.

"In addition, the contractor has agreed to clean up any beads that do escape in the interim.

"The council's Environmental Health Team will continue to monitor the situation and review the effectiveness of the measures being put in place over the coming weeks."

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