This is a remote site and should be identified and kept as a green field site. It has poor road access and the bus service is minimal and any housing development will increase the car journeys to and from the area which would not support the local and national green transport policies.

These would not be modest dwellings for local people but properties that would be too expensive for local working class people to afford and minimal transport means it is only accessible for those with cars.

Local people cannot get doctors appointments or dentist appointments, schools are oversubscribed, the addition of a minimum of c100+ individuals in this location would put even more strain on local services.

As a Pett Level resident I have a valid concern about the additional pressure any development of this size would have on current flooding issues. It is enormous. The current Southern Water sewage treatment plant that processes the sewage for the Fairlight area and ultimately sewage from this site is situated by the Pett Level Road, in high water flow conditions it regularly discharges sewage into the Marsham Brook Sewer because it cannot handle current capacity. Any development at Wakehams will add to the pressure of this sewage treatment plant.

Southern Water does not plan, or has the funds to spend in upgrading and enlarging the capacity of the sewage treatment plant. Therefore without this vital and necessary upgrading of the sewage treatment plant it would be irresponsible of the Planners to consider retaining this site for housing development.

The 2022 Appeal supports the refusal of the planning authority of the development at this site. RDC planners should note and uphold this decision and remove this site for housing from the Local Plan. The planners should support their colleagues, councillors, residents and Inspector and de-allocate Wakeham’s Pond site from the Local Plan.

This is a remote site and should be identified and kept as a green field site. It has poor road access and the bus service is minimal and any housing development will increase the car journeys to and from the area which would not support the local and national green transport policies.

These would not be modest dwellings for local people but properties that would be too expensive for local working class people to afford and minimal transport means it is only accessible for those with cars.

Local people cannot get doctors appointments or dentist appointments, schools are oversubscribed, the addition of a minimum of c100+ individuals in this location would put even more strain on local services.

As a Pett Level resident I have a valid concern about the additional pressure any development of this size would have on current flooding issues. It is enormous. The current Southern Water sewage treatment plant that processes the sewage for the Fairlight area and ultimately sewage from this site is situated by the Pett Level Road, in high water flow conditions it regularly discharges sewage into the Marsham Brook Sewer because it cannot handle current capacity. Any development at Wakehams will add to the pressure of this sewage treatment plant.

Southern Water does not plan, or has the funds to spend in upgrading and enlarging the capacity of the sewage treatment plant. Therefore without this vital and necessary upgrading of the sewage treatment plant it would be irresponsible of the Planners to consider retaining this site for housing development.

The 2022 Appeal supports the refusal of the planning authority of the development at this site. RDC planners should note and uphold this decision and remove this site for housing from the Local Plan. The planners should support their colleagues, councillors, residents and Inspector and de-allocate Wakeham’s Pond site from the Local Plan.

I have received a letter to explain that there is a proposal to build houses on Wakeham's Pond Field and that a consultation to this is currently operating. I hope that I have not missed the consultation as I have comments to make.

As a resident of Pett Level, it is of great concern to me that any homes will be built at this site due to the risk of groundwater flooding and sewage pollution. The sewer system in Fairlight is not of an adequate standard to cope with more homes and would potentially affect my property and those of other Pett Level and Fairlight residents. I am led to understand that currently raw sewage already enters the Marsham critical water course which is a World Heritage wildlife RAMSAR site so to increase this happening is absolutely outrageous and not at all acceptable. I am flabbergasted that it could even be deemed a possibility. If the National Inspector believes that it is not an acceptable proposition, then I cannot understand how it is even being considered so once again.

Please take note of my total opposition to the building of any further homes on this site.

I am writing to Voice my objection to the proposed development at Wakehams Pond Field

(1) support for the 2022 Appeal Inspector's findings re:the risk of groundwater flooding is too high and that extra houses would make sewage pollution worse

(2) a call for Wakeham's Pond Field to be de-allocated in the new Local Plan

It is in the interests of Fairlight, Rother District Council, Pett Level and the general environment to de-allocate housing on Wakeham’s Pond Field in Rother District Council’s new Local Plan 2020/40. The new Inspector, when he comes to decide on the new Local Plan, should

1. Support the 2022 Appeal Inspector’s findings: the risk of groundwater flooding is too high and extra houses would make sewage pollution matters worse, and
2. Call for Wakeham’s Pond Field to be de-allocated in the new Local Plan.

Wakeham's Pond Field, Fairlight

I’m writing to you with my concerns regarding the above field/area.

I understand that building on this site is up for discussion again. I’m wondering why when nothing has changed! At the bottom of this message you can see the sewage coming out of the drainage system in Lower waites Lane. This still happens regularly. This will probably become worse (if that’s possible) with the completion of the houses on the old market garden site (as these are built on a hill and looks like the site is so over developed with so much more hard surfaces than gardens, water run off’s are going to cause an even bigger problems in this area!) it’s like a huge concrete watershed!

If the Wakeham’s ‘pond field’ is allowed for building the sewage problem will increase, pushing more raw sewage down stream Lane and onto Pett Level, it will no doubt cause more harm to people and wildlife.

Fairlight already has huge problems with the ever increasing numbers of flash floods and water running down from the firehills and battery hill. The tops of the cliffs have really suffered this winter. People have had water in their homes that already live near the streams. Building on this site will increase the amount of water as the land falls towards the stream and all flows towards Lower Waites Lane and onto Pett Level!

There’s the usual problem of the roads, they are narrow in this area and can’t take the volume of traffic, lack of availability for doctors in this area, lack of educational spaces.

Surely this country should be trying to increase the amount of food production we as a country can provide for ourselves. Rather than importing from abroad! The farm land should remain farm land. I’m sure there are plenty of young farmers that would love the opportunity to farm the land around this area. Sadly there seems to be a few people sitting on this land waiting to make a lot of money! This shouldn’t be allowed to happen. Please de-allocate this field, for so many of the reasons above. We need to look after the land for future generations and the wildlife.

Wakeham's Pond Field, Fairlight

I’m writing to you with my concerns regarding the above field/area.

I understand that building on this site is up for discussion again. I’m wondering why when nothing has changed! At the bottom of this message you can see the sewage coming out of the drainage system in Lower waites Lane. This still happens regularly. This will probably become worse (if that’s possible) with the completion of the houses on the old market garden site (as these are built on a hill and looks like the site is so over developed with so much more hard surfaces than gardens, water run off’s are going to cause an even bigger problems in this area!) it’s like a huge concrete watershed!

If the Wakeham’s ‘pond field’ is allowed for building the sewage problem will increase, pushing more raw sewage down stream Lane and onto Pett Level, it will no doubt cause more harm to people and wildlife.

Fairlight already has huge problems with the ever increasing numbers of flash floods and water running down from the firehills and battery hill. The tops of the cliffs have really suffered this winter. People have had water in their homes that already live near the streams. Building on this site will increase the amount of water as the land falls towards the stream and all flows towards Lower Waites Lane and onto Pett Level!

There’s the usual problem of the roads, they are narrow in this area and can’t take the volume of traffic, lack of availability for doctors in this area, lack of educational spaces.

Surely this country should be trying to increase the amount of food production we as a country can provide for ourselves. Rather than importing from abroad! The farm land should remain farm land. I’m sure there are plenty of young farmers that would love the opportunity to farm the land around this area. Sadly there seems to be a few people sitting on this land waiting to make a lot of money! This shouldn’t be allowed to happen. Please de-allocate this field, for so many of the reasons above. We need to look after the land for future generations and the wildlife.

Wakeham's Pond Field, Fairlight

I’m writing to you with my concerns regarding the above field/area.

I understand that building on this site is up for discussion again. I’m wondering why when nothing has changed! At the bottom of this message you can see the sewage coming out of the drainage system in Lower waites Lane. This still happens regularly. This will probably become worse (if that’s possible) with the completion of the houses on the old market garden site (as these are built on a hill and looks like the site is so over developed with so much more hard surfaces than gardens, water run off’s are going to cause an even bigger problems in this area!) it’s like a huge concrete watershed!

If the Wakeham’s ‘pond field’ is allowed for building the sewage problem will increase, pushing more raw sewage down stream Lane and onto Pett Level, it will no doubt cause more harm to people and wildlife.

Fairlight already has huge problems with the ever increasing numbers of flash floods and water running down from the firehills and battery hill. The tops of the cliffs have really suffered this winter. People have had water in their homes that already live near the streams. Building on this site will increase the amount of water as the land falls towards the stream and all flows towards Lower Waites Lane and onto Pett Level!

There’s the usual problem of the roads, they are narrow in this area and can’t take the volume of traffic, lack of availability for doctors in this area, lack of educational spaces.

Surely this country should be trying to increase the amount of food production we as a country can provide for ourselves. Rather than importing from abroad! The farm land should remain farm land. I’m sure there are plenty of young farmers that would love the opportunity to farm the land around this area. Sadly there seems to be a few people sitting on this land waiting to make a lot of money! This shouldn’t be allowed to happen. Please de-allocate this field, for so many of the reasons above. We need to look after the land for future generations and the wildlife.

I am writing to object to the proposed housing on Wakeham’s Pond Field as per Rother DC’s local plan 2020/40.

There are many reasons that have already been highlighted to you and I fully agree with the comments below:

"(1) Harm to the protected High Weald 'Natural Landscape' (whose name has been changed from 'Area of outstanding Natural Beauty'), (2) the effect on living conditions, (3) its isolation from the village, (4) pedestrian safety and urbanisation of Pett Level Rd, (5) effect on Dark Skies, (6) traffic increase and the chaos in narrow local lanes, (7) the existing lack of sustainable local services and poor transport links, (8) two storey dwellings uncharacteristic of the village, (9) the movement of vehicles along the site access road giving, in planning language, 'a hard edge' as seen from important public viewing points in the 'Natural Landscape and (10) many others.

Pond Field is a hopelessly inappropriate site because of the regular flooding and drainage issues and on top of that, the pollution problems caused by the village’s inadequate sewer system, built for 1500 residents that has grown to 2300, discharging raw sewage into Stream Lane and the Marsham critical water course down to Pett Level and the world heritage wildlife RAMSAR site."

I fully support the 2022 Appeal Inspector’s findings re flooding and sewage pollution and I call for Wakeham’s Pond Field to be de-allocation in the new local plan.

GUE0010: I cannot understand why RDC is spending money on pushing forward a development on this site when the HELLA rates it as an unsuitable site due to it's sustainability and accessibility issues. There are few services, no continuous footway to village amenities including bus stops. To access the limited services in Pett requires walking mainly in the carriageway. Future residents would be car dependent for most services.
The development of this site would increase the dangers of walking in the carriageway (due to increased numbers of parked cars) and would make non car owners socially isolated as the bus service is fragmented to say the least.
I also do not understand why there is no reference to it in the local plan when it clearly is being pushed forward by RDC as they have provided funding for surveys to be carried out.

Local Plan Consultation for Wakeham's Pond Field

My husband and I would like to express our strong objections to having anything built on the Pond Field, which is classed as a World Heritage Wildlife RAMSAR site.

At the moment, from our home we have a lovely view overlooking the farmland at Pond Field, and we live in a small rural village with a great sense of community. Just the way we want it and the way it was since we moved into the Village many, many years ago.

If new plans are drafted and approved and new houses plus amenities are built on the Pond Field, it would be completely and utterly detrimental to the current small village atmosphere and damage or even wipe out the precious wildlife on the site.

And what's more, the 2022 Appeal Inspector's findings were that, regarding the risk of groundwater flooding, the risk is too high and that extra houses would make sewage pollution matters worse.

As if we haven't already got enough existing problems with localised flooding and especially raw sewage being dumped into multiple locations locally!

I believe that every inch of the Village of Fairlight has now already been built up or is in the process of being built, so we've got enough problems to deal with, even before any new builds on Pond Field would be added to the dilemma.

We feel it is each Council's responsibility to make the correct choice in preserving all of the few and far between precious greenland, woodland and farmland that are still existing today.

Please, please take it strongly into consideration to de-allocate any new building plans for Wakeham's Pond Field.

We are writing with reference to this plan to request de-allocation of housing on Wakeham’s Pond Field and would respectfully draw attention to the appeal Hearing Inspector’s findings in 2022.

Our main concerns are:

This is an inappropriate site due to existing problems with regular flooding, drainage issues and sewage pollution.

Potential damage to World Heritage wildlife site RAMSAR from increased sewage pollution.

Road safety issues from increased traffic to Pett Level Road and local narrow lanes.

Further pressure on already overstretched local services, GP and Dental surgeries, transport links etc.

Thank you for your attention

Well here we are again, the same objections of my previous letters still apply, but problems of developing this site increase as time goes by. As you are aware planning permission for this site have been turned down several times going back to the 1970s.

Here are my points:

1. Roads to and from Fairlight, in all directions are narrow with several “pinch points “, where vehicles cannot pass each other. The road from Hastings to Rye at different points is in a very poor state. The road to Hastings from Fairlight has been closed on several occasions due to poor surface, and subsidence, which is poorly addressed. At this very moment Pett level road is not fit for purpose, a few potholes were filled last week, but long stretches remain in a poor state.Until these roads are maintained , the extra volume of site traffic ,and when built the many cars using the site would add severely to the problems.
Access to site on narrow road, on corner.

2. Sewage and drains.
Although works have been done at the sewage works recently, the problems remain. Fairlight drains are overstretched and at their limit, with a knock on effect down to Winchelsea Beach. The pathfinder is meant to help, we will wait and see. There are many springs in Fairlight, which cause problems when building. The name Pond Field should indicate the problems!

3. Local schools, Guestling and Icklesham. To get to them the lanes are very narrow. Previously it has been suggested that pupils could walk or cycle. Lanes far too narrow . If you went by bus you would have to either catch the bus to Rye, or Hastings first, and then change buses. Not an option even if they were frequent. Both these schools are oversubscribed.

4. Poor transport links, hourly bus to Rye and Hastings.


5. No real employment in village

6 Doctors Surgery. - nearest one Harold Road, Hill Surgery, completely oversubscribed, not taking new patients

7 Nearest dentist Rye, only taking new private patients when I last inquired.

8.This proposed site is in an A.O.N.B, with resulting damage to stunning views and ecology.There are plenty of brown sites in Hastings area to develop.

9. Since the last application the local post office and grocery store has closed.

In my view, it is unfair to the Fairlight community, to keep trying to develop this site, it puts a blight on existing houses around the site. Last time round the developers had so many facts completely wrong, they obviously had not taken the time to verify points. I will quote one example, they said you could easily get to Ore Station. It is not easy, there is very little parking, they’re only on residential roads which are full. Walking would take ages, and no pavements on narrow busy roads.

The infrastructure for this site DOES NOT EXIST.

We are writing to support the 2022 Appeal Inspector's Findings concerning the building of houses on Wakeham's Pond Field and to express concern about this housing development reappearing in the new Local Plan.
We objected at the time and are calling for Wakeham's Pond Field to be de-allocated in the new Local Plan.
Our concerns remain the same and include:

1. The density of housing
2. Ground water flooding and sewage pollution
3. Lack of amenities
4. Poor public transport
5. The plan for housing is outside the village and not connected other than by a busy road with entrance via a dangerous bend.
6. There would be no community cohesion.

I support the 2022 Appeal Inspector’s findings on Wakeham’s Pond Field re: the risk of groundwater flooding is too high and that extra houses would make sewage pollution matters worse and I call for Wakeham’s Pond Field to be de-allocated in the new Local Plan.

I support the 2022 Appeal Inspector’s findings on Wakeham’s Pond Field re: the risk of groundwater flooding is too high and that extra houses would make sewage pollution matters worse and I call for Wakeham’s Pond Field to be de-allocated in the new Local Plan.

I support the 2022 Appeal Inspector’s findings on Wakeham’s Pond Field re: the risk of groundwater flooding is too high and that extra houses would make sewage pollution matters worse and I call for Wakeham’s Pond Field to be de-allocated in the new Local Plan.

We live in Guestling Green and oppose the draft for planning 2020-2040 of 14 houses in Chapel Lane.

There will be an overall danger to locals, due to increased vehicles on the lanes and roads which is used for horse riders, as well as school children.

Increased levels of noise and activities within rural settings.

Gradual erosion of a historic village dating over 938 years old within AONB.

Loss of local ecology and eco systems which support our healthy environment.

Not enough infrastructure to sustain more house, families and everything that comes with more people.
There are no shops, and minimal public transport to accommodate.

As a member of this village for the last 18 years we do not agree to having houses built within.

I support the 2022 Appeal Inspector’s findings on Wakeham’s Pond Field re: the risk of groundwater flooding is too high and that extra houses would make sewage pollution matters worse and I call for Wakeham’s Pond Field to be de-allocated in the new Local Plan.

That was a long read. I am not sure I have remembered everything. However, one thing has stood out, and that is the plan to build on the Wakehams farm field behind our Fairlight village.

I know there is a desperate need for more housing but is a pond field really a good choice to build a few houses. Also, we have enough trouble in the village with excess water, causing sewerage leakage, which is not very nice or healthy. I ask you to seriously think about this and imagine you live in one of the houses that floods with sewerage and wake up to find people's excrement in your garden.

I support the 2022 Appeal Inspector’s findings on Wakeham’s Pond Field re: the risk of groundwater flooding is too high and that extra houses would make sewage pollution matters worse and I call for Wakeham’s Pond Field to be de-allocated in the new Local Plan.

I fully support the 2022 Appeal Inspector’s findings on Wakeham’s Pond Field for the following reasons:

1. The risk of groundwater flooding is very high.
2. Extra houses would make sewage pollution matters worse.
3. Extra traffic without alternative public transport will be inevitable. The country lanes in an area of outstanding beauty are not designed for this.

I support the 2022 Appeal Inspector’s findings on Wakeham’s Pond Field re: the risk of groundwater flooding is too high and that extra houses would make sewage pollution matters worse and i call for Wakeham’s Pond Field to be de-allocated in the new Local Plan.

I support the 2022 Appeal Inspector’s findings on Wakeham’s Pond Field re: the risk of groundwater flooding is too high and that extra houses would make sewage pollution matters worse and I call for Wakeham’s Pond Field to be de-allocated in the new Local Plan.

I support the 2022 Appeal Inspector’s findings on Wakeham’s Pond Field re: the risk of groundwater flooding is too high and that extra houses would make sewage pollution matters worse and I call for Wakeham’s Pond Field to be de-allocated in the new Local Plan.

Please take this into consideration when the council looks at the development question which I understand has reared its very ugly head once again.

I support the 2022 Appeal Inspector’s findings on Wakeham’s Pond Field re: the risk of groundwater flooding is too high and that extra houses would make sewage pollution matters worse and I call for Wakeham’s Pond Field to be de-allocated in the new Local Plan.

I support the 2022 Appeal Inspector’s findings on Wakeham’s Pond Field re: the risk of groundwater flooding is too high and that extra houses would make sewage pollution matters worse and I call for Wakeham’s Pond Field to be de-allocated in the new Local Plan.

I support the 2022 Appeal Inspector’s findings on Wakeham’s Pond Field re: the risk of groundwater flooding is too high and that extra houses would make sewage pollution matters worse and I call for Wakeham’s Pond Field to be de-allocated in the new Local Plan

I support the 2022 Appeal Inspector’s findings on Wakeham’s Pond Field re: the risk of groundwater flooding is too high and that extra houses would make sewage pollution matters worse and I call for Wakeham’s Pond Field to be de-allocated in the new Local Plan.

I support the 2022 Appeal Inspectors finding’s on Wakeham’s Pond Field re: the risk of ground water flooding is too high and that more houses would make sewage pollution even worse and I ask that Wakeham’s Pond field to be de-allocated in the new Local Plan.