SURFERS CONDEMN MOVES BY WATER INDUSTRY TO EXCLUDE TELSCOMBE CLIFFS FROM NATIONAL PARK BOUNDARIES.

The decision to exclude the beach at Telscombe Cliffs from an Area of Natural Beauty (AONB) that could allow a multi-million expansion of a sewage treatment works there, has been condemned by leading environmental group Surfers Against Sewage.

The relaxation of the boundary could open the door for Southern Water to put in the same proposal for a sewage treatment works that was rejected earlier this year on the grounds that the proposed siting of the sewage works was not environmentally friendly.

Southern Water's original proposal had also 'fallen foul' of Surfers Against Sewage as it only proposed secondary level treatment of its sewage. We've made it clear to Southern Water that the only solution we won't object to is a proposal which has full treatment (i.e. UV disinfection). This is the only way to give Brighton's water-users the sewage free environment they deserve!

It has now been 8 months since Southern Water set up a Consultative group to come up with a range of possible locations for the siting of a sewage treatment works for the city's sewage. It is disappointing to think that one of these options could now be the original proposal due to the boundary relaxation.

Richard Hardy of Surfers Against Sewage says:"The relaxation of the AONB boundary at Telscombe Cliffs should not be used as a tool for Southern Water to revert back to their refused proposal. All site options for sewage treatment works currently being considered for Brighton by Southern Water must be able to provide full treatment of the sewage whilst safeguarding the local environment".

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For further information please contact Richard or Vicky on Tel: 01872 553001 or Mobile: 07817 401460/07811 963562. Or SAS Brighton representative Richard Gregory on Tel: 01273 386744.