People power has forced a supermarket giant to back down on plans to dump tons of sewage into a stream.
Asda had applied for planning permission to build a new waste treatment plant at the superstore it wants to build in Ferring.
Every day, around 36.8 cubic metres of treated effluent – the equivalent of 150 bathtubs of waste – would have been pumped into a stream which flows into Ferring Rife.
But now the supermarket has abandoned the idea after hundreds of furious residents bombarded it with complaints.
Asda originally claimed the treated sewage would meet EU and Environment Agency standards, but campaigners warned it would pollute the stream, which flows to Ferring beach.
Now the new superstore is likely to be connected to the main sewerage system instead.
Ferring Conservation Group drew up a petition against the sewage plant with more than 1,500 names.
Chairman, Ed Miller, said residents felt they had won the battle but not the war.
“We feel very pleased and grateful – but the campaign goes on,” he said.
“I hope they will now listen to our views on other issues such as 24 hour opening, light pollution and traffic congestion.
“But I am glad Asda finally listened to the views of local people.”
Carole Robertson, chairman of Ferring Parish Council, said: “We are delighted with this news. It removes a great deal of anxiety and resentment about Asda’s plans.”
Chris Martin, Asda’s senior property communications manager, said: “We said we would listen to feedback and we have done just that.
“While we remain confident the on-site sewerage solution is a suitable way to address the challenge of our site being off the main sewerage network, it was clear to us this was not the preference of residents.”
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