FOLLOWING this week’s fire at the waste company site at their North Quay premises in Newhaven, I have been thinking about the incident and I believe there is a need to review the County Council’s waste strategy for the town.

Newhaven has long been regarded (and regarded itself) as a dumping ground for the county and I think that it is high time that it supports us with a proper investigation into how the waste businesses that have congregated around the ERF (Incinerator) look at safety.

I have mentioned in my posts on social media during this incident, that this is the third such occurrence in as many years and I firmly believe that officers from ESCC should engage with these firms to ensure that they look pro-actively at prevention of incidents like this in the future.

While we do not know what happened in this case, if waste is stacked floor to ceiling then self-combustion is a real possibility and Environmental Control Officers should be checking to ensure that best practice is employed by these businesses, to prevent where possible the chance of such reactions occurring.

Companies failing to take the proper steps should be prosecuted and held accountable for the devastation that ensues.

Councillor Steve Saunders
Distict and Town Council
Newhaven Valley