Here is the link to the R.E.A.L (Residents of East Sussex Against Landraise) website

The REAL web site

Despite having turned them down 10 years ago and being in power ever since !

23 May 2002 - Villagers fight land raise plan

'.. The Conservative Group of East Sussex County Council is keenly aware of residents' concerns about the prospect of land raise.

Those of you who have been to the many public meetings brought together to discuss the proposed Waste and Minerals Core Strategy will know that the consultation phase is now over.

During the next few months, council officers will consider some 4,000 public responses, as well as numerous petitions.

While this analysis continues, the Conservative Group will maintain proper scrutiny of findings and any subsequent conclusions.

Eleven years ago, the Conservatives rejected land raise as a solution to our waste management challenges; we will examine any new proposals now very critically and in the light of the comments we have received ..'

Cllr Tony Reid, deputy leader, East Sussex County Council, and Cllr Nick Bennett, Conservative county councillor for Alfriston, East Hoathly and Hellingly

Comments

a. The conservatives were in power the last time this matter was put forward by ESCC so why are we once again in this position?

b. It is quite true that the conservatives were instrumental in turning down the previous land raise proposals. However, we are informed that the motives for this were partially because an election was looming (if anyone knows better please let us know) rather than any other considerations

c. No mention has been made about the 2,000 (estimated) historic objections which relate to these land raise proposals - see Minutes Joint Strategic Planning Advisory Committee 28 July 1999. Have all the previous objections been ignored (except in the case of Brighton & Hove, where they seem to have been heeded!)?

d. If the conservatives are so utterly against these proposals why is ESCC once again putting forward land raise proposals as the future way forward? Has nothing been learn't from history; despite the fact that they have been in power ever since the last time?

Just to recall Councillor Lock's (the person who seems to be in charge of the current land raise issues) previous message when 'selling' Newhaven et al.

Councillor Lock - Is There a Political Will to Deliver Targets

Interestingly enough nothing was mentioned at the time about land raise despite that fact that it was still being actively pursued in the background by ESCC and must have been known about by the ruling political party

One has to question whether this is a 'damage limitation' exercise or a real breakthrough about alternative forms of waste disposal - rather than just being 'paper monitors'. We all know about the objections and these sorts of plattitudes really bring nothing constructive to the argument other than being an advertisement for those concerned.

If you really want to make a positive contribution then start putting forward ideas for a sensible alternative way forward instead of '.. maintain proper scrutiny of findings and any subsequent conclusions ..' which is purely hot air just for the sake of making a comment - very light weight!

Frankly any party that manifestly goes against the wishes of those whom they claim to represent does not deserve to remain in office and all parties should think very carefully about this

East Hoathly & District Preservation Society Monthly Walks
With
Residents of East Sussex Against Landraise

Walking the proposed Land Raise Sites

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, archaeological finds and information on landraise was displayed, tea and biscuits served and the importance of Greenfield sites recognised.

Sunday 7th March - Broomham Farm/Golden Cross - Meet at Deanlands 2:00pm

Sunday 4th April - Piltdown and Newick - Meet at The Piltdown Man

Sunday 2nd May - Wick Street (West of Middle Farm) - Meet at Middle Farm

Sunday 6th June - Hellingly (Between Hackhurst Land and Broad Farm) - Meet at Hellingly Village Hall

All sites have been selected by the same criteria - NO site identified is any more, or less, suitable than any other

East Sussex say they have a difficult decision:

• The decision should be easy: - NO new sites for landraise

Keep writing to the Councillors, asking them questions about it

Some times and details to be confirmed

Everyone Welcome

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

Contact Chris & Jenny Pellett 01825 872830

Herewith some information going back 10+ years to 1999 when the original land raise proposals were put forward by ESCC (East Sussex County Council)

A summary of objections raised to the original 52 sites - Minutes Joint Strategic Planning Advisory Committee 28 July 1999

Towards the end of the document will be found a summary of the number of objections associated with each site

It is also interesting that a number of sites in Brighton were originally put forward but have disappeared from the latest proposals

Also worth looking at are the following:

Cabinet Report 23 Nov 1999

Agenda Extraordinary Meeting 15 December 1999

Minutes Extraordinary Meeting 15 December 1999

Background information WLP (Waste Local Plan) 15 December 1999

Sussex Ouse Conservation Society - 4th January 2010

Proposed land fill/land raise sites in East Sussex threaten the ecology of the Sussex Ouse

The Sussex Ouse Conservation Society has lodged a formal objection to land fill/land raise sites that have been proposed in East Sussex which in the Societies opinion could compromise the environmental integrity of the River Ouse and certain of the rivers feeder streams.

We cannot find any proposals within the information provided on leachate management which is naturally of great concern. If these were included we would still be most unhappy as any such measures could still fail over time or fail as a result of human error. The river catchment is rich in numerous fish species and other wildlife, it is also the source of water provided to your homes by South East Water who abstract immediately above Barcombe Mills.

In line with our remit as a Society to concentrate upon the river we have not covered the very many other problems that will be caused by these sites. These include the considerable increase in heavy goods vehicle traffic, noise and air pollution, health issues, visual degradation etc. These issues will cause very real problems to not only the local population but also to those living further afield.

Sussex Ouse Conservation Society Land Raise Objections(PDF)

THOUSANDS of villagers have taken up the fight against “medieval” plans for monstrous mountains of waste in a ­ picturesque part of Britain.

ESCC County planners have earmarked five 60-acre sites near rural homes, rivers and ancient woodland to dump 80ft mounds of rubbish ......

Daily Express Newspaper - 21 February 2010

This is a worrying statement from Rupert Clubb, East Sussex’s director of transport and environment

Mr Clubb said they were analysing 3,000 responses to a consultation which closed in January. He added: “There are some well-considered and well-informed responses that might influence a future decision but it is too early for me to say.”

Now hang on here - NO mention has been made about the historic objections raised the last time around. What is happening about the historic objections by CLEAR and others; could ESCC please confirm that they have these historic objections in their posession and that they will be taken into account

Will ESCC please place all the previous historic objections into the public domain so that we know they are being considered as part of the process

'.. MIGHT INFLUENCE A FUTURE DECISION ..' - so it really does't matter how many reasoned arguments against land raise are put forward it could all be for nothing, because someone in ESCC makes an arbitrary decison behind closed doors!

It would seem that the only thing that '.. might influence ..' anything is an impending election rather than any cogent argument. Don't forget that this is a political world and we are lead to believe that the only reason ESCC abandoned the last land raise attempt was because those in power feared being voted out in a backlash over land raise. Perhaps the ballot box is the only way force the current land raise plans to be re-thought; it is just a pity we cannot vote some East Sussex County Council empolyees out of office! 

Can ESCC please provide names and qualifications of all those who will be involved in the decison process so that we can be assured of sufficient competency, impartiality and also that it is not already a 'done deal'

(see Norman Baker - '.. it is a matter of record that the councils decided to enter into a contract with Onyx to provide an incinerator before this Public Inquiry even began..'

31 January 2000

Does this sound a familiar topic

'.. I understand that landfills nationwide are responsible for a third of all groundwater pollution. They produce methane in large quantities, which is a bad greenhouse gas ..'

'.. The joint draft plan to which the hon. Gentleman referred included a range of unacceptable proposals, one of which was landraise in my constituency. That is the worst possible option in the waste hierarchy. It involves landraise in the lower Weald at Veals Farm, next to a development of mobile homes at Deanland, where many people have gone to retire—that is the proposal that the hon. Gentleman is presumably supporting in his intervention—and landraise between Firle and Selmeston in my constituency. Will the Minister tonight rule out landraise as an option for any authority? ..'

'.. ‘Waste should generally be managed as near as possible to its place of production, because transporting waste itself has an environmental impact.’ I hope that the Minister will confirm that tonight. If he does, he should acknowledge that the substantial amount of waste from Brighton and Hove should be disposed of there, and not shunted miles into East Sussex. Brighton and Hove—a great place that wants to be a city—should take responsibility for all aspects of its management. It should not simply dump its rubbish over the border in East Sussex ..'

Reference: Norman Baker Waste Disposal (East Sussex) - January 2000

Could Cheryl Miller and her cohorts please explain why we are 10 years further forward and ESCC remains stuck in the dark ages with their waste disposal proposals?

Why have ESCC provided absolutely no new ideas since that time despite being aware of the situation and the changing enviroment over the period. Just remember we the ratepayers are paying these people (and very handsomely in the case of Cheryl Miller) to do nothing!

In the quest for 'best value' perhaps all those who have been paid to provide a solution over the past 10 years should refund the tax payer because they have obviously woefully failed to do their job - in any other area sackings would be in order; starting at the top!

Quite frankly ESCC inability to formulate a coherent sustainable waste policy 10 years down the line is tantamount to NEGLIGENCE

East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove Council really are pursuing a WMD policy in their attempts to destroy the East Sussex Low Weald with ill advised land raise sites

We have heard from a whole range of experts who confirm that there are enormous problems with the current ESCC land raise waste proposals; these range across all the whole spectrum from Ancient Woodland to Visual Eyesores and include Water Pollution, Road Capacity, Proximity and so on .....

Furthermore there is universal all party condemnation for these retrograde land raise proposals

Therefore, why is East Sussex County Council continuing to pursue their monumentally flawed land raise policy in spite of all evidence to the contrary?

All the advice so far has suggested that ESCC scrap the current proposals and start again - yet nothing seems to be happening except a pointless assessment exercise about 'counting' all the objections so far. We all know of these objections so what will 'counting' them achieve except more delays; especially as no one at ESCC has so far addressed any of the objections by answering them

It is worth noting that any current assessment which conveniently ignores all the historic objections (CLEAR etc) is clearly meaningless and solely geared to favour ESCC stance. With this in mind we need a statement from Councillor Lock assuring us that all historic information has been taken into account

Why is ESCC not listening to the people of East Sussex, Norman Baker, Charles Hendry and every other advisory body that has been consulted who all confirm that ESCC policy is a disaster. Nevertheless ESCC continue relentlessly with this disastrous policy by burying their collective heads in the sand?

If ESCC were listening they would abandon the current fruitless exercise of reviewing the objections and actually move forward constructively by starting the whole process again from scratch

What particular reasons can ESCC have for ignoring the people of East Sussex

5th February

East Sussex County Council's plans for a controversial and unpopular landfill scheme were yesterday slammed on the floor of the Commons by Lewes MP Norman Baker.

Mr Baker challenged the government to discourage East Sussex County Council from going ahead with the scheme, which has been met with significant local opposition.

Norman Baker told the Commons:

"Will the government take steps to discourage East Sussex County Council from creating landraise mountains in the countryside?

"In this day and age is it not unbelievable - and appalling - that my Conservative county council wants to build 60-acre wide and 80-foot high waste mountains in the lovely Sussex countryside? Will he draw the council's attention to the Government's waste hierarchy and suggest that it moves from the 15th century to the 21st?"

Environment Minister Dan Norris responded by stating:

"The Government's priority is to reduce the amount of waste we produce. Landfilling, of which landraising is a form, should always be the last resort. The truth is that we need to reduce, recycle and reuse at every possible opportunity, and allowing waste to go into landfill is not a good thing.

"The Secretary of State for the Environment (Hilary Benn) and I both went to Sussex University, so we are very familiar with the beauty of the area, and we recognise people's anger."

Lib Dem Norman Baker later commented:

"Land raise as a method of waste disposal is simply unacceptable in the modern age. If this scheme goes ahead, it will not only create a terrible eyesore, but will have disastrous environmental consequences.

"East Sussex County Council must face up to the fact that this is an ill-conceived and unwanted plan. I am pleased that the government have expressed concern about the use of landraising, and I will continue to campaign against this scheme."

Norman Baker House of Commons

Here is a draft copy of the Agenda for Monday 8th February 2010

Venue The Griffin Inn - Gun Room at 7:30pm - Anyone you know can attend, this is not confined to a few and is open to all.

This is phase two of the Campaign and we need you to attend and Vote,this meeting is equally as important as the first phase, which has been highly successful due to everyone's support.

The P.A.A.L  Full report to be offered to residents at a cost of £50

EVERY RESIDENT SHOULD HAVE A COPY

Change of name from P.A.A.L  or  O.V.A.L.

Any other names to be forwarded and discussed

Vote : For / Against

Public meetings reference to a discussion with Stuart Meire CPRE Sussex CPRE Membership

Political Lobbying – Councillors

Philip Russell - Vick

List of Councillors and M.P’s who have received a copy of the P.A.A.L. report

Sam Sainsbury:

1. Leaflets and News letters for late February and Mid March

2. Content & Style   Design / Artwork

3. Web Page

4. Number 10 Petition

5. Media review

Any Other Business

Future Venue for general meetings

Date of next general meeting and venue

Close meeting

PAAL Representations on East Sussex and Brighton & Hove WMD Framework (5mb)

See the pictures from page 38 onwards about the visual impact of landraise on the countryside around - puts the site in context with the surrounding countryside