Inquiry date fixed

A Government appointed inspector will hear objections to the plan which is likely to be dominated by concerns over a waste incinerator at Newhaven.

The inspector will then issue a report in which he will set out any modifications to the plan that he considers necessary. If the councils agree that changes are necessary then further public consultation will take place.

The inspector will be Mr Andrew Newman who will be assisted by Mr David Tester.

Cllr Tony Reid, the lead councillor for transport and environment at East Sussex County Council, said: 'The public inquiry into the Waste Local Plan is a very important part of making sure that we have got our plan right.'

The programme officer for the inquiry will be writing to everyone who submitted a valid objection to the plan during the two consultation stages, providing more details about the inquiry.

The programme officer is independent from the two councils and it is her job to organise the inquiry on behalf of the inspector.

Objections to the plan and the councils' responses are listed in schedules which are available for inspection at county and district council offices across East Sussex as well as on the councils' websites.

The website addresses are: www.eastsussexcc.gov.uk and www.brighton-hove.gov.uk