Water Management in Lewes District

South East Water has published a revised Water Resources Management Plan. The main features affecting Lewes District are planned upgrades to the Barcombe Mills Water Treatment Works in the relatively near future and, in the longer term, a proposal to recycle purified water from the new Peacehaven Waste Water Treatment Works, via Barcombe Mills. In the very long term (probably after 2030) the company plans a second reservoir at Arlington in Wealden District, which has the support of both Arlington and Berwick parish councils. Earlier proposals for a new reservoir at Clay Hill, Ringmer, that would have affected the adjoining Plashett Wood ancient woodland SSSI and were strongly opposed by CPRE, have been dropped.

Good news on the Planned Solar Farm near Lewes

Also apparently dropped, or at least not currently being progressed, is the proposal by the German company Vogt Solar for a 75,000 panel solar farm on more than 25 hectares of mainly grade 2 agricultural land within the South Downs National Park at Upper Stoneham, just north of Lewes.

Thanks to Gerald Summerfield

Lewes District would like to thank Gerald Summerfield for the immense contribution he has made to CPRE over the twelve years he has been Chairman. During this time he has dealt with major issues in the district, Falmer Stadium, and Peacehaven Sewage Works being among the most important. He has served time on the Sussex Branch Executive and is still on the National SE Region Transport Advisory Team, something for which he is well qualified after a long career with British Rail, retiring from a senior position dealing with rail safety. He is presently a Sussex Branch Vice President.

As well as CPRE he has been very closely involved with the Sail Training Association and the Red Cross as well as time on his local council, including a term as Mayor.

He will be, as they say, a hard act to follow and we are all very pleased to welcome Professor Edmund Critchley who was elected as the new Chairman at the recent Lewes District AGM.