Dismay at Peacehaven sewage works decision

Labour's Simon Burgess, a consistent opponent of the plans, has expressed his dismay at the decision of the High Court to give Southern Water a go-ahead for their sewage works plans for Peacehaven.

From left: Simon Burgess, Cllr. John Livings and members of PROUD at the High Court

Simon organised a demonstration at Southern Water HQ in Worthing when the proposal was first announced and recently undertook a sponsored cycle ride from the High Court to Peacehaven to raise funds for the judicial review. He was in court along with Des Turner MP and local residents this week to hear the case this week.

"Southern Water and Conservative led East Sussex County Council have ganged up against local people. I am particularly disappointed that the judge ignored the fact that Southern Water have failed to meet the County Council odour controls at Pebsham for six years. This is very worrying for Peacehaven residents who live closer to the planned Peacehaven works and have every reason to doubt whether the promised odour controls will be met. In any case these works should always have been built on a brownfield, previously industrial, site and it is outrageous that the county council encouraged them to apply for a green field site instead.

"The one positive that may come out of this is the extra pressure it will hopefully have applied to the County Council and Southern Water to finally sort out the odour control at Pebsham and also for Peacehaven for the future - they can be sure the community will be watching and smelling carefully. It was particularly awful yesterday to see taxpayers' money being spent on a barrister for the County Council acting against the interests of local residents. In contrast the Chair of PROUD , John Hodgson, has been an inspiration and deserves the freedom of Peacehaven".

Follow this link for Simon's BBC Southern Counties interview after the decision.