The site was initially expected to close in 2005

Residents of Pebsham, near Bexhill, say the tip causes noise, smells and dust and are keen for it to close.

But they have been told the site, which takes about 200,000 tonnes of waste every year, may now remain open for three years longer than expected.

The site, run by private operators Biffa Waste Services, was initially thought likely to close in 2005, but that date was then extended to somewhere between 2005 and 2007.

I feel that 2008 is only an indication for a closing date and 2015 is realistically more likely Resident Don Wise

The most recent assessment concluded the tip, which takes waste from East Sussex County Council and other sources, can sustain filling until the end of August 2008.

Don Wise, whose home in Bexhill Road backs on to the Pebsham site, said residents feared the site might in fact stay open even longer.

He said: "I feel that 2008 is only an indication for a closing date and 2015 is realistically more likely."

Mr Wise, who is on the liaison committee between Biffa and residents, said lightweight rubbish like plastic bags was being blown up to a mile away.

'Toxic waste'

Residents were also unhappy about the large lorry containers which released lots of dust when they brought the rubbish.

The council, which has a contract for about 45,000 tonnes of the waste dumped at Pebsham each year, said it considered the 2008 end date a "reasonable estimate".

In a statement, Biffa said: "Planning permission for the site never imposed an official end date and as more and more waste is recycled, so less is available to landfill and estimated times of completion change."

Biffa has said the site will be restored for use as a country park once it was full.

The joint East Sussex, Brighton and Hove draft Waste Local Plan, looking at waste disposal up to 2015, is due for release in the summer of 2004.