The proposed desalination plant at Newhaven by South East Water is yet another example of the water companies taking the population of East Sussex for a ride.

Quite apart from the cost (15 times more expensive than conventional water supplies), which will inevitably be loaded onto the water bills of long-suffering customers, there are serious enviromental concerns.

The amount of energy used by the plant will add to the Kyoto Treaty carbon dioxide burden of this country and there are also concerns about the effect on the local wildlife.

Given the management skills of English companies, I suspect the technology and design of this plant will not be exactly cutting edge and nor will its operation.

The recent sewage flood disaster at Fairlight Cove, Sussex, does not inspire confidence in any local technical scheme by water companies but, most importantly, the plant is entirely unneccesary.

The river that flows by it discharges billions of litres of fresh water into the sea every year.

Why can't they simply divert some of this fresh water a little upstream of Newhaven?

Also, if the water companies repaired their collapsing pipe system, there would be no need at all for new supplies.

This is another example of an expensive, ecologically damaging technical project which is utterly unneeded, especially by the longsuffering residents of Newhaven whose town is already the planned site for a giant incinerator.

Will South East Water please explain why they cannot repair their pipes and use the river water at Newhaven instead?

-Mike Scott, Omega Institute, Brighton