Fight continues over landfill site

Members of Bexhill Against Landfill and Incineration (BALI) are set to hand their findings to East Sussex County Council (ESCC) ahead of the authority's next newsletter on the matter at the end of the month.

Amid news that ESCC is now exploring alternatives to land disposal, the town's MP has warned residents landfill "remains a real threat", calling for Bexhill to unite behind a common cause.

Greg Barker said: "We still need to continue to raise money to fight a professional campaign and ensure this threat is defeated by the town.

"It's clear the wider expert opinions are moving away from landfill because of the huge costs and environmental impact landfill has.

"But it's still a very real problem and there's absolutely no room for complacency in our campaign.

"We have always been at our best when we have a common cause uniting different parties and age groups."

Fresh with a new constition and membership scheme, BALI have prepared a submission summarising findings at Ashdown Brickworks, Turkey Road, ESCC's preferred choice for a new waste disposal site.

The findings include:

'¢ The discovery of dinosaur remains at Ashdown Brickworks.

'¢ An ongoing application to turn the brickworks into a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

'¢ The expansion of Bexhill cemetery, meaning its borders will neighbour the brickworks.

'¢ The new Bexhill High school site on Gunters Lane.

'¢ The delay and possible cancellation of the Bexhill Hastings Link Road.

ESCC is still considering the response to the recent consultation on the landfill proposals, and say they will soon publish an analysis of residents' concerns, hinting at the prospect of further consultation.

A recent edition of Your County magazine, published by ESCC, says they are: "looking at other alternatives which might mean land disposal is not needed".

When asked to explain this, a spokesman commented: "There are a range of ways in which we can reduce the need for landfill, including minimising the amount of waste produced in the first place, recycling, composting and converting to energy.

"We are already employing these techniques for household waste and are in discussion with partners to consider the feasibility of all or some of these approaches for commercial, industrial, construction and demolition waste."

Nearby West Sussex County Council recently suspended work on its waste strategy in the light of a policy review by the coalition government.

Asked why ESCC is pressing ahead, the spokesman said no decisions would be made before government's plans were clear.

"We must plan for the waste that continues to be produced in the county, especially given that existing disposal facilities have a finite life," he said. "However, we are conscious that government is reviewing its waste policies and we will not therefore make any plans in advance of the results of this and any other reviews."

Nick Hollington, chair of BALI, urged residents to join the group's new membership scheme, saying: "I have always wanted to involve local people in the association.

"We want everyone to join. Going to East Sussex to continue this fight we need to say we have at least 1,000 members. Anybody can join and we hope councillors will join too. It gives us more weight."

Leader of Rother District Council Carl Maynard has previously confirmed RDC "consistently and fundamentally opposes" landfill at Ashdown Brickworks, but could not be reached in time for comment yesterday (Thursday).

'¢ BALI's next move is a meeting of key stakeholders on October 29.

Though not a public meeting, Nick invited community groups to send a representative along. Contact BALI on 01424 843046 or 01424 221872 for information about the meeting, or membership.