ESCC See Sense Over Land Raise

On Monday 3rd October East Sussex County Council published their new Draft Waste and Minerals Plan, superseding the ‘Preferred Strategy’ published in October 2009, which had identified a site between Newick and Piltdown as potential for land raise.
All residents will no doubt be delighted to hear that ESCC have now revised their policy and the new plan does not include any Areas of Search for land raise or landfill.
Their revised approach comprises:
* Reducing the need for land disposal by reducing the amount of waste produced
* Making provision for increased treatment (e.g. recycling or recovery) of waste
* Recognising that the declining amounts of waste still requiring land disposal should utilise existing planning permissions outside the Plan area
* Planning for additional capacity for recycling/recovery facilities equivalent to the likely exports of waste for landfill.

This is a draft plan which will have to go through all the consultation processes, but if approved should be adopted in January 2013.  The plan can be viewed at: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/yourcouncil/about/committees/meetingpapers/cabinet/2011/110ctober.htm.
Thank you to everyone who supported our campaign.  It was vital that we made ourselves heard over such a serious and threatening issue and you helped us to do that.  We will continue to monitor progress of the plan and keep you informed via our website www.piltdownaction.com.

PAAL Committee

PAAL Press ESCC To Get On With Waste Plan

East Sussex County Council has published an Analysis of Comments on the Preferred Waste Strategy* and Factsheet 2** reporting on the findings of their initial research into the potential land raise / landfill sites in East Sussex. 
* Analysis of Comments on the Preferred Waste Strategy

**Copy of Factsheet 2 can be obtained on request from East Sussex County Council on 01273 481846 or wasteandmineralsdf@eastsussex.gov.uk

PAAL has responded to ESCC with an open letter detailing their concerns about the continued delay in this process.  Copy letter as follows:

Ian Blake

Waste and Minerals Planning Policy Team

Transport & Environment

East Sussex County Council

County Hall

St Anne’s Crescent

Lewes

BN7 1UE

7^th January 2011

Dear Sir,

East Sussex County Council Waste & Minerals Core Strategy

Following the publication of the Analysis of Comments on the Preferred Strategy and Factsheet 2, I am writing on behalf of P.A.A.L. to raise a number of points we have with the County Council’s approach and presentation of a number of key issues.

We welcome the new emphasis on alternative disposal methods and are encouraged that the County’s discussions with industry are proving constructive. As we and many others set out in their consultation responses, given the almost complete absence of suitable landfill sites, “every effort” must be made to increase the recovery and reuse to the highest possible levels. It is evident and regrettable that every effort had not been made during the preparation of the Preferred Strategy consultation.

Our principal point of concern is the continued delay to the process and the impact that this extended period of uncertainty has on local communities, particularly those directly affected by the landraise Opportunity Areas, so-called, and the landfill possibility at Ashdown Brickworks. Setting aside the obvious potential financial loss for an individual’s own property, which we accept is not a planning concern, there is real impact on local socio-economic issues (e.g. willingness of businesses and individuals to invest in affected areas) and, in some cases no doubt, a perceived impact on individuals’ health and well-being. These are matters of planning and, one might say, of political concern too.

The County Council’s sanguine approach to the extended timescale is unfortunate. It is appreciated that the Coalition Government is preparing a new national waste policy but in the meantime urges councils to continue to make their plans. The Chief Planner’s letter to local planning authorities, dated 6^th July 2010, regarding the revocation of Regional Strategies, stresses that “Planning Authorities should continue to press ahead with their waste plans, and provide enough land for waste management facilities to support the sustainable management of waste (including the move away from disposal of waste by landfill).” It seems to us that in this sentence the Government’s whole position is summed up neatly. Unfortunately, it is in stark contrast with the County Council’s continuing delay and out of date Preferred Strategy; sitting back and waiting for the Government’s review isn’t acceptable.

To this end we wonder what is happening in respect of the promised detailed environmental and engineering design assessment of the Opportunity Areas and Ashdown Brickworks. We were told that this work would be likely to be commissioned from consultants and would commence during or at the end of the period for assessment of the consultation responses. We understand that no such work has been commissioned from consultants or instructed to in-house staff. This work is capable of being undertaken whilst waiting for the Government’s review and, crucially, its results could be capable of ruling out some or all of the Opportunity Areas, providing relief to those communities at least.

I would also add that we are disappointed with the summary of the responses on the Opportunity Areas. There was no express mention of the weighty criticism of the site selection process and no mention of the absence of landowner consultation. For the Newick/Piltdown there are several specific points which are of importance but have not been included; for example, no references to the remote location from the arisings and the inadequate capacity of the site once adequate buffers have been employed.

P.A.A.L. urges the County to press on urgently with its discussions with industry and to ensure that spatial provision is made in the plan for built disposal facilities. We look forward to being informally consulted, as promised in the Factsheet. It is vital that the County is ready to respond immediately to the Coalition’s strategy as soon as it is available.

Yours faithfully,

Bob White

Chairman P.A.A.L.

Meeting on 27th May - POSTPONED

We've decided to postpone the next public meeting, which was scheduled for 27th May, as ESCC have not come back to us with any comments yet and it seems pointless to have a meeting until we have something further to discuss.  Their response has been delayed because they have been unable to complete a review of all the objections that they have received - due to the number that they have received!  We are advised that they anticipate sending out updated information sometime in July.  As soon as we know we will schedule the next PAAL meeting - details will be available on the next newsletter and this website.

ESCC are about to publish a leaflet to be sent to residents living within the 'Area of Search' to inform them of the future process (as a direct result of criticism on their communication effectiveness so far).  If you don't actually live within these areas you will still need to know so we will ask them if we can post the information on this website as well. 

PAAL have been discussing the consultation methods with ESCC and we hope that they will ensure that this is greatly improved in the future.

Any questions please contact us.

Don't Believe The Rumours - We're Not Safe Yet

There seems to be a rumour going around that the Piltdown site has been discounted by ESCC.  This is not true - we are putting up the best fight we can but we cannot afford to be complacent. 

Walk Against Land Raise

PAAL has been asked to publicise the following notice of events:

Walk Against Land Raise
EAST HOATHLY & DISTRICT PRESERVATION SOCIETY
in conjunction with the Residents of East Sussex Against Land raise are
WALKING THE PROPOSED SITES:

On Sunday 7th February - 88 concerned residents walked from Laughton Stores across green fields through Laughton Park Farm to Halland Park Farm.  the history of the listed building, archeological finds and information on land raise was displayed, tea and biscuits served and the importance of Greenfield Sites recognised.  Perhaps it is preaching to the converted but the fallacy of the ESCC Waste Plan must be kept at the forefront of our minds.

the proposed schedule for walking the other sites is
SUNDAY 7TH MARCH
BROOMHAM FARM / GOLDEN CROSS

SUNDAY 11TH APRIL - NOTE NEW DATE!!!
GRISLING COMMON SOUTH OF THE A272 BETWEEN PILTDOWN & NEWICK
Meeting at 2pm - Venue TBC

SUNDAY 22ND MAY
WICK STREET (WEST OF MIDDLE FARM)

SUNDAY 6TH JUNE
HELLINGLY (BETWEEN HACKHURST LANE & BROAD FARM)

Obviously co-operation and input from local groups is necessary therefore times and details are to be confirmed.

EVERYONE WELCOME

EACH WILL HOPEFULLY include displays of LOCAL history/INTEREST, WILDLIFE SURVEYS & ARCHEOLOGICAL FINDS

All sites have been selected by the same criteria and in the opinion of EHDPS NO site identified is any more, or less, suitable than any other.

ESCC say they have a difficult decision: they want us to mkae it for them.

The decision should be NO new sites for land raise.

If you have any questions regarding these walks please contact:
Chris Pellett 01825 872830
ctpellet@yahoo.co.uk

Support CPRE

CPRE (Campaign for Protection of Rural England)
This organisation has provided invaluable information for all the proposed sites in East Sussex and has done a lot of good work to inform people.  Please show them your support in the invaluable work that they do. There's lot's of detail and information on their website: http://www.cpresussex.org.uk/

PAAL Representation Document

Extract from PDF document...

1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 These representations are made on behalf of Piltdown Action Against Landraise (PAAL), formed on 5th January 2010 by landowners and individuals in the Piltdown and Fletching area.  Enplan was asked to prepare representations following proposals contained in the Preferred Strategy of the Brighton & Hove and East Sussex Waste and Minerals Core Strategy Document, which was published in October 2009.  PAAL’s main objection to the Preferred Strategy is the introduction of landraise on Greenfield sites as a means of disposing of household waste, as referred to at Policy CS6 of the Preferred Strategy.

Download the Full Report PDF (5.15MB)