Water man fights on

A FRAMFIELD man who found rare mineral water deep under his garden after a premonition this week vowed to fight for his right to bottle the liquid.

David Purseglove, of Paygate Farm, Palehouse Common, discovered uniquely pure water after digging a 120-foot deep hole in the middle of his back garden. He spent 6,500 on digging the hole after experiencing a recurring dream about hidden treasure in his grounds.

The self-confessed psychic applied to Wealden District Council to build a water bottling plant in his back garden. However, planners refused the application on the grounds that there was not an 'overriding and essential need' for such a plant on the site. Planning members also expressed concerns about increased traffic in the area.

Mr Purseglove, who has lodged an appeal against the decision, said: 'The council said that there was no overriding justification for a plant on the site. But mineral water must be bottled direct from source as opposed to spring water which can be carted to a bottling plant for processing. This is a legal requirement.

'To say that no overriding justification has been made is clearly wrong. The law requires it. What other justification can be needed.

'Furthermore, the traffic which will be non-HGV will be limited to two vehicle movements per day plus normal domestic access. This can hardly be construed as excessive use.'

The water has been described as 'the most uncontaminated ever discovered' and is said to contain the perfect balance of 16 minerals, including calcium, magnesium and fluoride. Business giants Boots the Chemist and Virgin have both expressed an interest in it as health tonic.

Speaking to the Sussex Express last year about his psychic experiences, Mr Purseglove said: 'I've had them since I was four. There have been some pretty dramatic things happen in my life.

'I have had experiences like this all my life and they're right every time. I know when I get these special dreams it means something. But this time it was really something special.'