27 February 2008
We received a petition asking:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to stop the proposed incinerator at North Quay, Newhaven, East Sussex."
Details of Petition:
"The incinerator proposed by East Sussex County Council will dominate the town of Newhaven with two chimneys towering over 230 feet high, the main building of the incinerator will be over 100 feet high and more than 500 feet long. The site is on the edge of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and in a valley which is between the two halves of Newhaven. There is overwhelming opposition to the incinerator in the town and in neighbouring towns, the Town & District Councils are also against it but the County Council is ignoring local opinion. So far more than 11,000 objections have been made. "Regeneration not incineration"
Read the Government’s response
The planning application for the proposed development of an Energy Recovery Facility was referred to the Secretary of State under the Town and Country Planning (Development Plans and Consultation) (Departures) Directions 1999 by East Sussex County Council on 1 March 2007. The Secretary of State decided not to intervene in the planning application in her decision letter dated 22 March 2007.
The Secretary of State’s decision was subject to an application for Judicial Review by a member of the public in June 2007. The application was refused by the High Court on 7 August 2007.
East Sussex County Council granted planning permission for the proposed development on 12 November 2007.
The Secretary of State has discharged her statutory function in this particular planning application and her jurisdiction has ceased.
East Sussex County Council submitted a Compulsory Purchase Order for Land at North Quay, Newhaven, to the Secretary of State on 4 June, for the purpose of acquiring the land for the proposed development of an Energy Recovery Facility.
A public inquiry was held commencing 13 November 2007. The Inspector’s Report is currently awaited. Therefore, the Secretary of State’s decision on whether or not to confirm the Compulsory Purchase Order will be made in due course.