Water supply fear as more than 1,000 homes planned

Plans for more than 1,000 homes in an area affected by water supply issues over the winter have led to concern from a parish councillor.

An exhibition outlining proposals is being held in Frant, on the Kent/Sussex border, as Wealden council consults on changes to its draft local plan.

Frant parish councillor Deborah Park says the infrastructure is already struggling after repeated water supply failures, and the area is designated a National Landscape, or protected countryside.

The council said it was consulting on changes, following an increase in housing targets from 1,200 to 1,457 homes a year. South East Water said it would use latest housing figures to accommodate additional properties.

In January, up to 30,000 homes across Kent and Sussex lost water or had low pressure after Storm Goretti, power cuts and freeze-thaw bursts.

People also faced disruption in November and December when about 24,000 households lost supply following a plant failure, which was followed by a boil-water notice lasting several days.

Park said: "Water is a fundamental need. If you don't have a good, guaranteed supply of water, then you risk public health issues.

"Being without water on and off for weeks on end is just not acceptable in this country in this day and age."

She said: "We are 99% national landscape here. We are the boundary between the built environment and our countryside, and we're going to bulldoze that over."

Park, from Frant, who lost her water supply in December and January, and has compiled figures from council documents, said 1,032 planned homes were spread over several sites, with two marked as optional.

In a statement, South East Water said: "In the shorter term, our priority continues to be to reduce leakage, improve water efficiency.

"We've started work upgrading meters across our network in preparation for smart meter technology.

"We'll continue to work with local councils to understand any emerging new housing requirements and if they can be accommodated within our existing supply-demand forecasts prior to the development of our next plan."

Wealden council said exhibitions on the plans had been held since February and the final in-person consultation was being held at Stables Hall in Frant from 14:00 GMT on Thursday.

The authority's virtual exhibition will remain online until consultation closes on 27 March.

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