Residents plan major protest if Pebsham plant reopens

Deputy mayor Terry Soan, who lives in Bexhill Road, said it would be the next move of protesters who are calling for the controversial plant to be closed down for good.

It follows their fury over last week's blaze at the plant, at Freshfields, off Bexhill Road, which sent great plumes of acrid smoke billowing over their homes over the Bank Holiday weekend and on through the week.

People had to stay indoors and close their windows instead of enjoying the sunny weather as some 2,000 tonnes of pellets made from rubbish which had been stockpiled in a shed went up in flames, burning through the week and creating the heavy pall of stinking smoke. Some 70 firefighters worked round the clock for several days to deal with the burning pellets, which are made from domestic waste.

A petition demanding the closure of the plant because of health risks to residents of Bexhill Road and surrounding roads had already been signed by 70 people on Monday.

Cllr Soan's wife Margaret said the air seemed almost back to normal on Monday. She thought rain and the wind had helped.

"It should not open again even if it's proved that there is no health reason. It still should not be near homes," said Mrs Soan.

Cllr Soan said: "I think the residents should be listened to and the plant should not be re-opened."

He said they would be presenting the petition to the county council.

It follows a call from MP Michael Foster for a review by the county council over the suitability of the Pebsham site.

"I think we should have a health and safety audit for this site - for such an activity so close to houses you cannot take risks.

"We do have to have these sort of facilities but with one so close to houses the most paramount importance is to take account of the safety of those living in the vicinity. I am in favour of the plants but not if they expose local residents to risk."

Reprotech's general manager David Watts said they had insurance assessors looking at the plant and what they came back with would determine how they ran it in the future.

The fire brigade has said that the most likely cause of the blaze was the hot weather leading to a build up of heat with the huge stockpile of pellets self igniting in the store but their investigation is continuing.

Mr Watts said that if the cause was confirmed as the spontaneous combustion of the pellets following the hot weather they would have to look at a different storage arrangements and it would be done in conjunction with insurers.