CAMPAIGNERS against a multi-million pound sewage works have vowed to stop paying their council tax if councillors approve the scheme.

More than 300 members of Pebsham Residents Action Group say they will use hard-hitting tactics to get their message of defiance heard by East Sussex County

Council.

Ken Paterson, of Filsham Drive, Pebsham, lives only yards away from Southern Water's proposed site. He said: "For five years we have held protest meetings, written letters to MPs and councillors and organised petitions but we feel our views have been ignored.

"If councillors approve the sewage works we will fight on. The plant will be a blight on our property and will pollute and devalue the area."

The action group will demand reduced rates if the scheme gets the go-ahead on Wednesday. If their demands are not met, members say they will stop paying their

council tax in protest.

Mr Paterson said: "A neighbour is trying to sell his house. He had a number of interested parties but as soon as they heard about the sewage works they instantly withdrew their offers.

"The value of our property will drop and we want some sort of compensation. A rate reduction is the least the council can do and we are all prepared to fight for our rights and withhold any rate payments until our views are taken seriously."

Mr Paterson announced the group's action plan after planning officers made a

U-turn over the site. They advised East Sussex county councillors to approve Southern Water's controversial proposal for the waste water treatment works at Pebsham, even though they previously turned it down.

Southern Water was denied permission to build the plant by East Sussex County Council earlier this year following hundreds of objections from residents and councillors.

County councillors agreed with opponents of the scheme, in particular the Pebsham Residents Action Group, who said it would destroy a

strategic land gap between Bexhill and Hastings and cause too much traffic.

The level of local feeling has been intensified as Pebsham has also been shortlisted for a waste incinerator, along with Mountfield Mine, near Robertsbridge.

But now planning officers say they are in favour of approval because of the urgent need for the sewage works and the lack of alternative sites for development.

They have advised county councillors to approve plans subject to a legal agreement and detailed conditions, although the final decision will be made by Secretary of State, John Prescott.

Hastings Borough Council previously opposed the development saying the site was environmentally unsuitable and would create too much traffic. However councillors have now reconsidered a duplicate application and agree it should be approved.

A spokesman from the county council's planning department said: "I remain of the view that the considerations in this case are finely balanced and it is only weighted in favour of approval because of the need for the development and the absence of a better location for the works."

But the action group strongly objects to the development and plans to bombard John Prescott, with letters in an attempt to get the scheme

relocated.

The head teacher of Pebsham School also raised concerns about increased traffic putting children and adults in

danger.

County councillor Jean Hopkinson, who represents the area and voted against the original plan, said: "This is very controversial.

"Pebsham is a greenfield site and there remains a far better alternative at Bulverhythe which is brownfield and far more suitable."

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