Leachate is the liquid that drains from a landfill and it sometimes contains toxic substances.

East Sussex County Council has made an application to the Environment Agency to discharge waste water containing treated landfill leachate from the former Glynleigh landfill site in Hankham.

The county council has applied to dispose up to 30 cubic metres of waste water per day to Drockmill Hill Gut.

Villager Joyce Richards said, "I am not an engineer but I do know that leachate can be toxic.

"This is just 200 yards from where I live and it is an international wetland where a large amount of organic farming takes place.
"It is a cause for concern because East Sussex County Council has not even informed the parish council about its plan."

Mrs Richards raised her concerns at June's parish council meeting and Cllr Michael Nash thanked her for bringing the matter to the parish council's attention.

Chair of Westham Parish Council, Cllr Barbara Molog, said the council would write to the county council to find out more.

Mrs Richards contacted the Environment Agency about the issue after June's Westham Parish Council meeting.

"I hope Westham Parish Council will agree to continue to keep an eye on this development," she said.

"Although, my impression is that the leachate would be treated before being released into this Site of Special Scientific Interest and that the process of treatment would have to match up to Environment Agency standards."

A spokesperson from East Sussex County Council said, "The county council is responsible for safely disposing of waste water from the old landfill site.

"We currently move it by lorry via rural county roads to be treated at waste water treatment plants in Kent.

"We are proposing to treat the waste water on the site and dispose of it via the Drockmill Hill Gut tributary to Glynleigh sewer.

"This will save travel costs and be a more sustainable, environmentally friendly, route of disposal.

"The water will be treated so it will not affect local fish or wildlife.
"The Environment Agency will continually monitor this process to ensure the on site treatment is in accordance with the strict requirements of both the Environment Agency, Southern Water and European Environmental law."

Anyone wanting to make representations should write to The Environment Agency, Water Quality Permitting Support Centre, PO Box 4209, Sheffield, S9 9BS.

The deadline is July 25 and all letters sent in must include the reference number NPSWQD001645.