INCINERATOR DECISION DELAYED

A DECISION on whether to grant planning permission for the Newhaven incinerator has been held up at the last minute - because the site lies on the edge of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Jan 2007, 10:18 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 22:50 BST

Now, the Government could 'call in' the plans and rule on the burner's fate after yet another round of consultation involving written comments from the public.

Tory-run East Sussex County Council was due to make a decision on a planning application for the incinerator next Wednesday. But this has been halted at the eleventh hour after officers said the bid was a departure from planning policies because of the impact the huge building would have on the AONB.

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They also pointed to loss of areas for storing and processing crushed rock and marine aggregates at North Quay.

Objectors to the plan believe the council has blundered at a late stage in the incinerator saga. The Mayor of Newhaven, Cllr Rod Main, said: 'If I were the chair of the committee I might want to ask the officers why they have only just noticed this less than two weeks before the application was due to come before committee.'

And speaking on behalf of Lewes Liberal Democrats, Newhaven county councillor Pat Ost said: 'We have long held that the incinerator application breached the council's own guidelines in two areas: unacceptable visual impact on an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and using up valuable port area land earmarked for aggregate and building materials.'

Veolia South Downs Ltd has applied to the county council for planning permission to develop an energy recovery facility and associated facilities including a waste transfer station at North Quay. The incinerator forms part of a joint waste strategy adopted by the council and Brighton and Hove City Council now that landfill space is running out.

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Objectors now have a chance to protest about the visual impact on the AONB by sending in their written comments by February 7.

If councillors then decide to grant permission, Secretary of State for Communities Ruth Kelly could 'call in' the application and make the final decision.

A county council statement said the application was being advertised by site notices and a public notice in the Sussex Express. Written comments must be received by February 7, 2007.

The statement added: 'These comments will be reported to the planning committee when it considers the application. If the committee's view is that planning permission should be granted, all original comments as well as any further comments received as a result of the advert will be forwarded to the Secretary of State, Ruth Kelly.

'She would consider whether she would wish to call in the application for her decision or authorise the county council to grant permission.'

Related topics:East Sussex County CouncilNewhavenGovernment