Your report on sewerage surveys (The Argus, March 8) beggars belief.

How could Southern Water select the Lower Hoddern Farm site before it had carried out extensive surveys?

Any one of these surveys could prove the site unacceptable. Yet it has been officially designated, which has caused great concern to local residents and possible property blight.

Surely any planner should evaluate the conditions and the potential impact before it selects a site as being the most appropriate of eight options under consideration?

Southern Water has subjected this area to three years of uncertainty during the planning application and appeal for the ill-chosen Portobello site at Telscombe Cliffs. Since then almost four years have elapsed.

Why were these surveys not carried out before?

Is Southern Water waiting for the designation of the South Downs National Park boundary before it attempts to foist an unacceptable giant regional sewage works on us?

Local people are still wondering what hidden agenda the company is pursuing in objecting to Telscombe cliffs and beach being included in the National Park.

-Jean Talbot, Press and publicity officer, Campaign for Residents Against Portobello