Public inquiry into recycling firm's licence

A PUBLIC inquiry will be held next month into a licence application from a metal recycling firm in Brett Drive.

Metal Recycling UK has been at the light industrial site since May according to nearby residents in Boxgrove Close.

They complain of noise and disturbance which they say is taking over their lives.

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The neighbours also claim Metal Recycling UK is operating without appropriate planning permission from East Sussex County Council.

ESCC has invited the company to make an application, which it says residents can then object to, and is waiting for this to happen.

In the meantime the public hearing will be at 10am on December 20 in Eastbourne.

Pat Stone has complained that apart from the sound of vehicles being dismantled and heavy machinery, Metal Recycling UK has bright bulk head lights now shining into their homes.

She told the Observer: “It has taken over our lives.

“It is horrible. We just want them gone.”

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The residents have complained to both ESCC and Rother District Council’s environmental health department, but say so far little has changed.

A joint statement from RDC and ESCC reads: “We have had further complaints from local people and enforcement officers are frequently carrying out unannounced visits to the site to monitor the situation.

“We are working with the Police and Environment Agency on this matter.

“The operator has recently undertaken an ecological survey.

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“This will be analysed and a report produced which will be submitted to the county council with their planning application for waste uses in due course.

“In the meantime, the site will continue to be regularly monitored with liaison taking place between all the various agencies and the authorities concerned.

“Environmental health officers will meet with residents and perform ad-hoc visits, but as yet there are no statutory nuisance matters for the district council to deal with. Similarly, the county council has no current grounds for formal enforcement action to be taken.

“We will continue to respond to neighbours’ concerns and, if it is considered necessary to do so, appropriate action will be taken.”