Sewage works: Eight sites in the frame

SOUTHERN Water has ruled out plans for a multi-million pound Portobello sewage works expansion in favour of eight new sites - among them Peacehaven and Newhaven.

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.