Ouse group's marsh worry

THE Sussex Ouse Conservation Society is opposing a bid to discharge up to 90 cubic metres of trade effluent a day into the Pellbrook Cut tributary of the Ouse.

The application to the Environment Agency comes from South East Water. The trade effluent consists of treated filter backwash water from Offham water supply pumping station, near Lewes.

The society says Offham Marsh is one of a very few sites that have been given SSSI status on account of its amphibious inhabitants.

Significant populations of common frogs and toads together with smooth and palmate newts would be endangered.

Added a spokesman: 'We are concerned about possible accidents involving chemicals.

'If the Agency considers that this treatment process is justified, we would urge that it is on condition that the effluent is piped to the tidal reach of the River Ouse.'

Mark Mansbridge, of Lewes Friends of the Earth, said: I'm very concerned about the discharge of chemicals into the Offham Marshes.

'After sewage discharges into the Lewes railway land it would seem that water companies are failing in their obligation to protect the local environment.'