MP's plea to help defeat sewage plan

THE southern tip of Telscombe Tye must be kept within the boundary of the proposed National Park to halt potential sewage works plans, says MP Des Turner.

THE southern tip of Telscombe Tye must be kept within the boundary of the proposed National Park to halt potential sewage works plans, says MP Des Turner.

The Peacehaven and Telscombe MP has now written three times to the Countryside Agency expressing strong concerns that the area south of the A259 is not included within proposals for the South Downs National Park.

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Southern Water has admitted that if the cliff top edge of the Tye was no longer classed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) it would consider it for a new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant to serve Brighton and Hove.

A multi-million pound Southern Water bid to expand the Portobello sewage works, at Telscombe Cliffs, was rejected due to its AONB status following a three-month public inquiry in 2001.

Dr Turner said: 'I find it very frustrating that though the planning inspectors agreed with local people that Portobello should be saved from Southern Water's plans to build a massive sewage works, that the Countryside Agency should be trying to argue that the site does not warrant protection.'

He added: 'I will continue to support CRAP (Concerned Residents Against Portobello) in their just fight to protect this important environmental site.'

Representations on the proposed boundary of the National Park are currently being considered by the Countryside Agency.