Mountfield

A few years ago, in response to serious sewage contamination issues, Rother District Council invoked an Act of Parliament and appointed Southern Water to negotiate, design and implement a sewerage system (the pipes), with ancillary pumping and access arrangements as required, and to link that sewerage to a waste water treatment plant (WWTP) consisting of a large collection tank and an associated treatment plant which would produce clean water into the River Line and approximately one tanker of post-treatment sludge per fortnight. They are now seeking a variation so that they only construct the sewerage, ancillary features, and the collection tank but, for an interim period, not the treatment plant. During that interim period, the collection tank would act as a giant village cess pit which would require emptying of pure sewage by tankers much more frequently.

Southern Water say they need this interim period as they cannot know at the outset what the throughput — i.e. the number of connections to the system — will be and the system requires a minimum throughput to provide a necessary degree of pressure and to guarantee a continuity of bacterial activity in the treatment plant.

At the EPCM, Southern Water will be invited to present their proposed planning application. This presentation will be followed by an opportunity for questions and answers, discussion, comment, etc. Finally the public part of the session will end. Thereafter, only councillors and Clerk will be allowed to speak while the Parish Council formulates its initial response to the imminent planning application.

Both our District Councillor, Eleanor Kirby Green, and our County Councillor, Kathryn Field have been invited.

WATCH OUT! There’s a gremlin about. And it substituted the Fairlight copy for Mountfield’s Village Voice last week. We aren’t exactly sure where Fairlight is but are told it’s even further away than Brightling. Anyway, we were enthralled to read about Mr Zebediah Bentfurrow’s parsnip and hope he found somewhere to put it. They certainly have a full village life down there. Anyway, no harm done.

MOUNTFIELD BIG SCREEN SOCIAL NIGHTS: A reminder that last Saturday (February 18th) was the showing of Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie. If you are interested, you’ve missed it.

SW CONSTRUCTION WORKS: Last week we reported that there had been been some issues with the noise from early morning operations, particularly in Solomon’s Lane. When these were raised with the contractors, MGjv, they immediately volunteered to try to limit the start of noise-generating activities to an 8.00 am start. This is an extraordinary response but not one that will surprise any local people who have had any contact with Glenn, Tony or any of the other blokes in hi-viz. To a man, they have been a credit to themselves and SW for whom they are doing the work.

VILLAGE PLANTING: A final reminder (for now) that the Parish Council is looking for people to join a steering group to help plan a village-wide planting scheme. The idea is that, as the scars from the construction work heal, Mountfield should emerge as a village with a smile of flowers on its face: planted bulbs, wild flower areas, completely wild areas, butterfly- and bee-friendly areas and bird nesting areas — the possibilities are endless. This would make the village a more pleasant place to live in and visit and a place to be proud of. (And it wouldn’t harm house values for those concerned with such things. Funding is available from a variety of sources. It just all needs to be planned over a number of phases. Anyone with any ideas, or willing to help drive the scheme, is asked to contact Steve Rickman Smith (880410) or Peter (see below) or one of the other councillors (see website). You don’t need to be an expert.

JOHN’S CROSS WATER MAIN: We should repeat that we now have details of the other major utility construction scheme in Mountfield. South East Water will be replacing the water main between Barracks Cottages and the old lodge south of the weighbridge. The new main will run down the A21 itself before turning off into the lay-by opposite Vinehall School. This will replace the old main which mostly runs under the properties from the old pub southwards. Work is scheduled to start next month and to last up to six months. To try and limit the adverse effect of the works, South East Water will conduct most of the work by boring and moling rather than open trenching. As we reported last week, the Parish Council have found SEW to be refreshingly open to deal with which, as we know from our contact with SW’s contractors, MGjv, makes a world of difference. If anyone requires further information, all parish councillors have complete construction maps. Also, we will be meeting up with SE Water before construction starts and walking the route.

A WINTER VISITOR: Last week we had a visitor to the stream in the field opposite the cottage: a little egret. For a few winters, they were regular visitors — or maybe it was just one — and then we missed them for the last few years. A small, bright white heron, with little of the ungainliness of its larger cousin and a wonderful sight on a grey February day.

FINALLY: As ever, we can be contacted on 880614 (if no reply, just leave us your details on the answerphone) or via [email protected]. We always welcome contributions and feedback.

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