Three Oaks sewage works can finally start

Southern Water (SW) was given the green light to build a wastewater treatment works and pumping station in October.

But a legal issue has held up construction until this week when it was confirmed the agreement had been completed.

Preliminary work was due to start this week which did not need planning permission but a SW spokesman was pleased the matter was resolved.

SW was initially given until April to sort out the legal issue over land ownership by East Sussex County Council’s (ESCC) planning committee but the deadline passed and it was referred back.

A two-month extension was granted by councillors in April but officers said the situation had ‘stalled’ at the last committee meeting on June 22, where it was agreed to give SW until September 22 to sort it out.

But the water company can now start work on the mains pipeline and pumping station off Fourteen Acres Lane and Butcher’s Lane as the planning permission has been granted.

An ESCC spokesman said: “Before work can begin, the applicant must fulfil a number of conditions, including providing details of a traffic management plan, archaeological investigation work and measures to protect trees on the site and to mitigate the impact on protected species.”

The main pipeline is being built to ‘help protect’ the village from pollution as properties are currently served by cesspools or septic tanks which are a risk to the environment, according to SW. Homeowners will be able to connect for free if they join during construction.

Some residents have expressed concern with the potential disruption as well as the perceived enthusiasm for the pipeline.

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