£8.3m for treatment works

STRICT new rules about the quality of waste water have forced the local provider to splash out more than 8 million on improving its treatment facilities in Hailsham.

Southern Water will spend 8.3 million bringing the Battle Road sewage system and Station Road waste water treatment works in line with new European Union regulations.

The work has already started and is scheduled to finish by December. The equipment currently on the two sites would not pass the stricter guidelines so Southern Water had no choice but to make the improvements.

A spokesman from the company said the work will not cause problems for local residents and no complaints have been received from anyone.

Keith Jeffery, project business manager of Southern Water, added: 'The standard of waste water treatment is already high but the works will mean they are significantly improved to meet the higher regulatory standards being brought in.

'By this time next year we will see those improvements in quality to the rivers of the county.'