Anger over lost hedge

Parish council vice-chairman John Kay this week said Rydon were expected to remove a part of the hedge next to their new development in order to connect to sewers.

However, the remainder of the hedgerow, closest to the Green, was due to remain to help screen the new development and the adjoining industrial area, which includes Diplock's abattoir and incinerator.

The council has referred the matter to Lewes District Council and East Sussex County Council and is unanimous that replacement of the hedgerow by a fence would be completely unacceptable at this sensitive location.

It will seek the immediate reinstatement of the hedgerow, using dense planting with mature specimens.

Said Cllr Kay: 'The hedgerow removed was an interesting one, containing ususual species such as damson whose flowers formed an attractive spring backdrop to the Green.

Muddy

'Now this is replaced by a muddy building site, overtopped by Diplock's incinerator chimney.'

A Lewes District Council spokesman said planners were aware of the removal of the hedge at the Rydon Homes development at Ringmer.

And she added: 'They are in touch with the developers to establish how this happened and are also checking the planning conditions to see if they have been breached.

'If so, punitive action could be taken.

'Two-thirds of the hedge was to be removed as part of the highway visibility splay. It would otherwise have obstructed visibility for highway users who need to be able to see traffic coming out of the development.

'A third was to be retained to screen the development from the Green. It is this that has been wrongly removed.

'The landscaping scheme for the development requires the two-third section of hedge to be replaced by newly planted hedge.'