Fears of industrialisation of Dial Post

George Johnson and fellow residents are against plans to turn lorry park area into a concrete recycling plant and transfer facility nesr his home. JPCT 10-03-15. Pic Steve Robards SUS-151003-140329001

Land at Thistleworth Farm Cottage, Grinders Lane, is currently used as a haulage yard and maintenance depot by Penfold Verrall Ltd.

The company is now seeking planning permission from West Sussex County Council to extend that to build an inert waste transfer and recycling facility. But residents are concerned such a development would cause dangerous conditions on the roads as well as excessive noise and dust.

James O’Reilly said: “The issues are of health, economics and the environment. I have had severe asthma since I was a child and the amount of dust coming from this would be large. Last summer that sand came over from North Africa. My point is that if sand can come over from Africa, dust can come from across the yard. I have a 16-month-old daughter. Getting dust in the lungs is not good for anybody.”

Residents also fear the nearby businesses, Honeybridge Lane Campsite and Old Barn Nurseries, could be impacted by the development.

Mr O’Reilly said: “They attract thousands of people to this village every month and we get passing trade because of that. We have Knepp Castle Estate and tourists come here.

“We think the economic side is pretty damaging. It’s the industrialisation of Dial Post.”

George Johnson, in nearby Honeybridge Lane, suffers from COPD - a severe lung disease, which affects breathing.

He added: “I don’t want to live near this for the end of my days.

“Even if it was under cover in a dust proof shed with nothing tipped outside, it’s going to be chaos if it goes through as it is.”

In planning documents Penfold Verrall Ltd states there would be an average of 44 lorry movements a day on top of the 50 existing ones. Part of the application is for a bund to help screen noise.

Director Adam Bish said: “We are compiling a response for the council addressing some of the points raised. We take residents’ concerns seriously. The last thing we want to do it upset our neighbours. Hopefully we can come up with something that allays fears.”

Due to the level of objections and public interest this application will be determined by the council’s planning committee.