ALLOTMENTS BONFIRE BAN

Allotment Society spokesman Chris McCarron took part in a good-tempered debate at an environment and leisure committee meeting.

After a fire on the Battle Road allotments earlier this year members ruled out the traditional bonfire as a way to dispose of waste.

Instead allotment holders were asked to shear prunings into manageable lengths and place them together with weeds, diseased plants, grass cuttings and cardboard into new bins which will be provided by Wealden District Council.

Mr McCarron thanked the council for the extensive work which had been done to improve the Battle Road allotment site.

But he said members believed bonfires were the best method of getting rid of rubbish and were allowed on most other allotments within the county.

A council officer said some had been burning polystyrene and other plastics which gave off noxious fumes such as cyanide and the meeting agreed the bin scheme should go ahead.