Parish News
03/03/2006 - Shock landfill proposal for West Sussex
Residents in a West Sussex village are preparing to fight a major scheme to create a second landfill site near their homes, which would extend waste transfer operations for another 25 years in the area.
The tiny community of Washington has been shocked by news that Veolia (correct) Environmental Services, formerly Onyx Environmental Services, has plans for infilling and restoration of the sand pit at Rock Common, just on the edge of the village.
Under the proposals, the 24 hectare site would be operated as a waste management facility, fulfilling the much needed waste disposal needs for West Sussex.
But the village had been looking forward to some respite, after years of landfill operations at a site near Rock Mill, not far from the Rock Common pit.
Parish Councillor Norah Dore said: "The parish council is absolutely against it. This site is even closer to the village- I can see it from my house windows. There are many factors to be taken into account.
"There are small businesses on the edge of the site, concerns about the water table, traffic and smells that would be generated. Sand martins inhabit the site and there is an enormous hole- there would be infilling going on for years."
For full story see West Sussex Gazette, 2 March 2006
