Small Dole Residents Fight Plans to Import 960,000 Tonnes to Former Landfill
Residents near Small Dole are opposing a proposal to bring soil and clay to a former landfill site over six to eight years.
Campaign against scheme
Residents in Small Dole are fighting plans by Cemex to bring 960,000 tonnes of soil and clay to the former Hales landfill site on Henfield Road. Small Dole Action Group has urged West Sussex County Council to reject the proposal, which would take place over six to eight years.
Cemex says the material would create an attenuation layer to improve long-term management of leachate, the potentially contaminated liquid produced when water passes through waste. The layer would slow rainwater passing into the landfill, and the site would be restored to pasture and other habitats.
Residents' concerns
The action group fears the weight of added material could squeeze leachate from existing waste and affect aquifers and the River Adur floodplain. Chris Warren, speaking for the group, said: "While we support the long-term protection of the River Adur, Cemex's heavy-handed proposal is a cure worse than the disease." He added: "We are being asked to sacrifice our daily safety, our roads, and our peace for the next eight years to fix a legacy environmental error."
Campaigners also worry about the impact of heavy vehicles on pedestrian safety, noise and dust. Cemex's environmental statement forecasts an average of 27 deliveries per full working day, equivalent to 54 two-way HGV movements. Vehicles would use the existing access road from the A2037 and travel to and from the A283 via the A2037 south.
Residents have also raised concerns about losing access to a footpath used for exercise. The application proposes a temporary diversion of footpath 2774 during the works.
Council response
In April, the county council asked Cemex to respond to concerns raised in public comments and explain whether less material could deliver the same benefits. In its July response, Cemex said the purpose of the scheme was to achieve the opposite of worsening leachate problems and argued that reducing the volume would undermine the scheme's objectives.
A county council spokesman said: "No decision has been made on this planning application. A report is being prepared for the Planning and Rights of Way Committee, which will consider all relevant planning matters, including comments received from residents, community groups and consultees."
Small Dole Action Group is holding a meeting at Small Dole Village Hall at 7pm on 11 November.
Source: read the full story