Hello all, Southern Water’s tenant is appealing Wealden Council’s refusal to allow conversion of a building into 11 holiday lets with balconies and hot tubs within 300m of the largest Gull Roost in the South East risking site abandonment with international consequences for 2 amber listed species. Southern Water has not stepped in to ask their tenant to cease development.

Please help by spending 2 minutes objecting to the planning inspectorate using some of the objections below: 

Visit: https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/MyPortal

(Enter 3336886 in the “search for a case” box. Click “Make Representation” then press ‘Save and Continue’ and follow instructions.)

The case numbers are: Appeal ref: APP/C1435/W/24/333688

The closing date is this Thursday 16 May 2024.

• In 2023, an independent ecological consultant, Matt Phelps, examined the site and found that the site is the largest overnight gull roost in South-East England (up to 120,000 roosting gulls) and with the company’s development plans, which mean the site will be open overnight for the first time, there is a clear likelihood the gulls would temporarily or permanently abandon the site with national and international consequences to 2 species of gulls as Bewl provides refuge for 10%  of the national population of the Common Gull as well as tens of thousands of Black-headed Gull (both amber listed species).       

• Southern Water is permitting these changes despite legal duties to protect biodiversity, public access and the AONB. It is ignoring the views of wildlife charities, current users and the local community ( RSPB, Sussex Wildlife Trust, CPRE).

• The site sits on the edge of the bird ‘superhighway’ which may soon be the first UNESCO World Heritage site of its kind.

• The site is within the High Weald National Landscape (previously called the High Weald AONB). The law requires the highest protection for these sites. 

• There would be negative impact on the character and tranquilly of the area.

• The building would create light pollution.

• The new building would be more dominant.

Anyone can object. There is no minimum age for objecting. You can add to your objection. 

If you use the above reasons, please feel free to add to them so your objection is more personal. 

For answers to questions please e-mail SaveBewl@wadhurst-pc.gov.uk

Please e-mail this note to all those who you think might help. 

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