Pebsam power plan thrown out

The refusal by East Sussex County Council has been greeted as good New Year news by campaigning county and Rother councillor Jean Hopkinson and by objectors on the estate.

For Pebsham Residents' Action Group, Ken Patterson said: "This is very good news. The situation is that it is now in Reprotech's hands as to whether they appeal against this decision.

"It could go through the whole legal process and end up with a public inquiry."

But it is not the end of the issue. Among options open to Reprotech is to go back to square one and submit a planning application.

County director of transport and environment Bob WIlkins has determined Reprotech's application for a Certificate of Lawful use to generate energy from waste at Pebsham.

He said: "The application sought the council's formal opinion on whether the waste material, through a system of combustion to heat the material to produce a gas which in turn would drive engines to produce electricity, could be undertaken without the need for further planning permission."

Reprotech boss David Watts said an appeal would be lodged.