Sewage works: Eight sites in the frame

The water company held talks behind closed doors this week with East Sussex County Council to discuss the locations under consideration.

Out goes Portobello at Telscombe Cliffs and in comes:

Peacehaven East. Farmland at the top of Piddinghoe Avenue, near the football pitch.

Brookside Farm, Newhaven, near the waste tip, on the banks of the River Ouse.

North Quay, Newhaven.

Shoreham Harbour.

Black Rock, Brighton.

Lower Sheepcote Valley and Upper Sheepcote Valley. Both north of Brighton Marina.

Ovingdean. Land next to Roedean School.

Don Burrell, chairman of CRAP (Concerned Residents Against Portobello) which fought successfully against Southern Water's original bid, was still suspicious what the final outcome would be and pledged to fight on.

He said: 'Hopefully, Portobello is out of the picture, but if it is going to offend other parts of the area we shall be fighting that just as strongly.'

County councillor for Peacehaven John Livings said leaks suggested Ovingdean was Southern Water's first choice.

'Anywhere inland would be better than what is proposed at Portobello as the sewage would undergo full treatment including ultraviolet. I think Peacehaven is reasonably down the list, with Ovingdean at the top.'

He added: 'My preference would be Shoreham. I think it would be most appropriate if we in East Sussex have got to have Brighton and Hove's rubbish in Newhaven they can deal with all the sewage.'

Cllr Livings also thought it was unlikely Newhaven or Peacehaven would be chosen as there was a ban on heavy vehicles, of more than 7.5 tonnes, on the A259 between Saltdean and Newhaven because of the instability of cliffs.

Southern Water has maintained it wanted to build a modern wastewater treatment to serve Brighton and Hove as quickly as possible.

After its refusal of planning permission for Portobello by the Government, following a public inquiry, it set up a team to review possible locations.

A spokeswoman said its plans would be made public in the New Year. 'In January there will be a series of public exhibitions and consultations on the various options.

'However, wherever a new treatment works is built, work would still need to be carried out at Portobello, as this is the current collection point for wastewater,' she said.