Complaints over '˜illegal' Brede field work

Villagers are concerned about a new access made in a hedge off Pottery Lane as well as work to the clear the field before it is auctioned on March 17.

Rother District Council is investigating the access which is no longer in use and has been replaced with a fence but the rest of the work would not need permission.

Phil Colley believes the work has endangered wildlife and is angry that workmen have turned a public footpath they were using into a quagmire.

“A beautiful piece of land has been turned into a quagmire and a large area of trees and bushes, which I know were a useful and undisturbed wildlife habitat, has been felled and is in the process of being cleared,” he said.

“It may be what is happening is perfectly legal, but whoever is behind it clearly has no respect for the environment or the fact that this is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The 29.9 acre field is due to be auctioned by Clive Emson at Brighton’s Hilton Metropole Hotel with a guide price of £90,000-95,000.

Mr Colley said workmen were living on the site while the work was done but an RDC inspection found no residential mobile homes.

Residents were concerned about having people living on the site and they could not find out what was happening as none of the workers spoke English.

An RDC spokesman said: “A number of complaints about this matter have been received by the council’s planning and environmental enforcement team.

“A site inspection was carried out last week when the landowner was also spoken to.

“A new access was found to have been created onto Pottery Lane although it is understood that this is no longer in use, and the land is being cleared.

“Temporary fencing has been erected to define the boundary of the land but no residential mobile homes were found.

“It is understood that the work is being undertaken in order to prepare the plot of land ready for sale.

“Neither the clearance nor the temporary fencing would require planning permission but the creation of the new access is under investigation.

“Officers will monitor the situation and take action as necessary in respect of the new access.”

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