Tye under threat

Southern Water has revealed it will consider the cliff-top edge of Telscombe Tye as the site for a 60 million sewage works expansion if it is not included in the new National Park boundary.

The company admitted this week it would reconsider the land if it were no longer classed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Southern Water said it had not lobbied against the southern tip of the Tye's inclusion in the park but had responded as part of the South Downs National Park public consultation.

Disagreed

It said it disagreed with the inclusion of its Portobello works within the boundary of the proposed National Park on the basis it did not meet the criteria for inclusion on the grounds of natural beauty or open-air recreation.

A spokesman said: 'Since the outcome of the Portobello public inquiry we have set up a project team with a brief to look across the whole of the area at every possible site to provide a modern wastewater treatment plant to serve Brighton and Hove and the surrounding area. This exercise is continuing.'

But he added: 'If the AONB boundary were to alter that would need to be taken account of in undertaking this exercise.'

Wherever a new treatment works is built Newhaven has also been suggested work would still need to be carried out at Portobello as it is the point water naturally drains to and the current pumping station would need to be adapted to dispose of wastewater from any new plant.

The revealing comments were made after MP Des Turner and around 90 protesters demonstrated outside Portobello on Tuesday.

A multi-million pound bid to expand the site was rejected in 2001 because of its AONB status following a three- month public inquiry.

However, people fear if the area of Telscombe Tye, south of the A259, is excluded from the proposed National Park, it will create an open door for Southern Water to resubmit a revised proposal.

Warning

The MP said the protest was a warning shot across Southern Water's bows.

'I was proud to work alongside local people who fought long and hard to have Southern Water's planning application for Portobello turned down. There are currently rumours that Southern Water may try again so we must fire a warning shot across their bows making it clear to them we will re-double our opposition if they try again.

'I personally doubt they would be so foolish and I made my continuing opposition very clear when I met with Stuart Derwent, Southern Water's managing director.'

He warned: 'This demonstration would be only the start of a campaign of opposition if Southern Water even mooted the idea of applying at Portobello again.'