Poor transport links have resulted in a new waste-recycling facility near Uckfield laying dormant. Lewes MP, Norman Baker, has blamed East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council for the delay, citing their ‘mismanagement’ of the waste contract for problems at the site.
‘It is a sad indicator of the way the county council has handled the whole issue. ‘This is a dysfunctional arrangement, since the infrastructure is incomplete. It is fast becoming a financial millstone around the necks of taxpayers of this area.’
The original agreement was for a filter lane to enable access to the site from the A272 near the Betts Bridge roundabout, in Maresfield.
However, last April, a roundabout was proposed, which has created a number of planning and legal issues that have yet to be solved.
The site was funded by taxpayers as part of a £1.3M contract between the two councils and waste firm Veolia. A spokesperson for East Sussex County Council said: ‘The site will open once we’ve resolved outstanding matters relating to some changes to the way the site is accessed. ‘These matters are currently being looked at as a matter of urgency and, subject to their resolution.It’s estimated the waste facilities will become fully operational by the end of this summer.’
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