Southern Water's plans to cut into the chalk at Telscombe to build its giant sewage works on the beach will cause a massive cliff collapse, the Portobello inquiry was told today.

Former mayor of Peacehaven Arthur Tappenden, who was an LCC district surveyor, called the proposed construction dangerous.

He said: "The cliffs will collapse. There is no doubt about it."

Mr Tappenden, who retired to Peacehaven, said a cliff collapse would take the busy A259 into the sea with it. He warned that it could lead to closure of the road, putting lives in jeopardy as emergency vehicles would have to take a long detour to get to Peacehaven via alternative routes.

Mr Tappenden called for an independent surveyor to assess Southern Water's plans to cut into the cliffs. He said there had already been collapses and he added: "I am convinced there is danger and the A259 will collapse. At its narrowest point the A259 is ten yards from the cliff edge."

Mr Tappenden said Southern Water would have to cut deep into the cliff to build the giant sewage works. He said the angle would have to be 45 degrees and this would cause the cliffs to collapse.

He said Southern Water's claims it would only have to cut into the cliffs at a 75 degree angle was an underestimation.

He called upon the inquiry inspector, Simon Gibbs, to reject the proposals.

The inquiry continues.

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