Although inadequate for a town the size of Crowborough, the Sunday morning temporary site ( and some recycling capacity) had been until recently working relatively satisfactorily. Not surprisingly, volumes of Waste disposed of at this site have decreased as many residents are using other sites, not least of all in Tunbridge Wells.

 Press notices have been issued to remind residents of location, hours, alternative sites and the necessity to avoid flytipping. The mobile site is open from 8.30 to 11.30am on each Sunday morning (no Bank Holiday service has ever been offered before – a small but welcome token).

The Farningham Road site is still being progressed by ESCC. The original £690k costs have more than doubled; the site acquisition is involving very complex and protracted negotiations – it is difficult to negotiate if responses are not received to the many approaches made! The eventual acquisition and development costs (including comprehensive planning conditions) have been incorporated into tenders for a county wide Integrated Household Waste Management Contract. Crowborough will eventually have a permanent site rather than a leasehold one.

Please note that East Sussex County Council rather than the Town or District Councils is responsible for the provision and operation of this mobile site. 

Recent increased demand for the mobile waste site caused by the summer weather created a significant number of complaints from residents.  The local police, a County Council Officer and I visited the site recently and spoke with many people about the problems being experienced.  Resulting from that, some changes were made but a further range of options are being considered and investigated.  In addition, a comprehensive press notice was issued and has been copied in full below.

Although there is quite a lot of background information below and consultation with technical consultees will occur in January 2004 over 'noise' studies, it looks highly likely that work on Crowborough's permanent site will start during the early part of 2004 with completion scheduled for about July/August 2004.

Because of considerable additional pressure from increased use, a number of improvements are being introduced at the mobile household waste recycling facility in the Bluebell Wood car park, Crowborough. The service operates every Sunday morning between 8.30am and 11.30am.

Improvements include signs, control barriers at the vehicles, and new operational regimes to try to avoid the need for the lorries to leave early. In addition discussions with the District Council and the Contractor are underway to review the service itself.

East Sussex County Council and Wealden District Council, together with SITA Wastecare Ltd, have arranged the mobile facility which can accept green garden waste, metals, cans, and domestic refrigeration equipment for recycling, as well as accepting bulky household waste for disposal.

Since the closure of the permanent Herne Road site the facility has mostly been operated successfully since it started in December 2001. But the County Council and its contractor are most concerned about the problems experienced at the facility, and have been in discussions to try and ensure this does not happen again. The County Council is currently monitoring the situation closely and apologises for any inconvenience caused to local residents arising from the early closures, caused by unexpected mechanical breakdowns.

The recent high usage of the site between 8.30 and 10.00 is causing some difficulties for the operators, mainly in controlling the activities at the site. The County Council, District Council and SITA are again exploring ways of addressing this issue but we are unable to make wholesale changes overnight as planning regulations, waste licensing requirements & environmental consents all have to be complied with.

The mobile facility in Crowborough is temporary and will be provided until a new permanent site has been built. The County Council has identified a replacement site in Farningham Road and has obtained a conditional planning consent. This consent is subject to certain conditions being met, for example levels of noise pollution and highway safety.

The new site will be a modern split-level facility along the lines of the Heathfield Household Waste Recycling Site and will be constructed and operated under the Integrated Waste Management Services Contract (IWMSC). The IWMSC is a joint contract between the County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council for the management of household waste arising in the area and was awarded during 2003. Work should start during the early part of 2004 with Crowborough having its permanent site by July/August.

Councillor Tony Reid, Lead Member for Transport & Environment, said: "This mobile service provides a much needed facility for the residents of Crowborough but it is limited, and we are working to provide a permanent site for the town. Although we are addressing these issues we would ask all residents to think about what they are throwing away, and to be patient when using the mobile service. Perhaps they could also consider using other permanent sites at Heathfield, Wadhurst, Forest Row, all of which are within 11 miles of Crowborough."

There are also six local recycling centres (for textiles, glass, paper and cans) in the Crowborough area. Wealden District Council also provides a bulky household collection service, the contact number for this service is (01323) 443359.

For further details about other Household Waste Recycling Sites in the County or for more information please contact the County Council’s Waste Management Group on 01273 482153."

 Updated on 31st December 2003