The Royal Mail’s plans to build a new base in Patcham could have harmful effects on the water supply for the whole of Brighton and Hove, an engineer has warned.
The plans also look likely to waste millions of gallons of water a year and could also increase the risk of people’s homes flooding in parts of Patcham, he said.
James Rhodes, a research and development engineer and numerical analyst, criticised the scheme to build a new Royal Mail distribution centre on a site as sensitive as Patcham Court Farm.
Several hundred neighbours have already objected – and today (Friday 26 August) is the formal deadline for sending comments on the plans to Brighton and Hove City Council (see below).
The three-acre plot, in Vale Avenue, is above a chalk aquifer – a natural layer of rock which catches and filters rain water – and adits, or shafts, built by the Victorians.
The adits help feed water from the aquifer to the pumping station at Waterhall where it is processed and from where drinking water is piped to Brighton and Hove and surrounding areas.
But the Royal Mail’s plans for the site would mean that water that would otherwise have soaked into the aquifer, feeding the local water supply, would instead end up in the sewers.
Dr Rhodes said: “Development on this site will mean that water that would otherwise have gone to the aquifer will have to be collected and thrown away.
“It will reduce Brighton’s possible available water supply now and in the future – and millions of gallons of water will be wasted.
“Under the proposal, all rainfall from the 1.3 hectares of land will be stored and directed to the sewer at a rate of five litres per second.
“This means that for every millimetre of rain, 13 metric tonnes, or 13,000 litres, will literally be thrown away. It is hard not to imagine what this could amount to in a year.
“By contrast, a garden hose uses between 10 to 15 litres per minute depending on water pressure – so consider how much water will be wasted.
“Of course, hosepipes have been banned in Sussex because it’s important to conserve water.”
Rebecca Kimber, who is co-ordinating the Patcham Against the Royal Mail (PARM) community campaign, said: “We’re experiencing the driest year on record since 1935 – so it’s nuts for Royal Mail to tarmac over a natural water system at this time.
“The strain on our water supplies will only get worse with climate change and this development will waste drinkable water and reduce Brighton’s water supplies.
“We need to be protecting our natural water systems for future generations.”
If the Royal Mail is allowed to build a new distribution centre in Patcham, it plans to close its premises in North Road, Brighton, and Denmark Villas, Hove.
The two existing sites have been earmarked primarily for housing, with talks currently taking place that could pave the way for scores of low-cost homes.
To see the plans and to comment on them, visit the council’s website here and search for planning application BH2022/02232.
Such a load of rubbish
The aquifer is sited below Horsdean cricket pitch which is the lowest point nearby and where water naturally drains to.
This argument was also produced to oppose the travellers camp in the former Horsdean park north of the bypass without success.
I would much rather see the derelict site developed for a company like Royal Mail,with benefits of local jobs etc
Stand aside the nimby brigade and let the party roll
Putaine de chat could you please explain what an aquifer is an exactly where you would find one? Thank you
I searched who Doctor Rhodes was and found he is an 82 year old who was also against having a park-and-ride in Patcham for similar reasons in 2005.
His claims, and those of Rebecca Kimber, would apply to any building developments in Patcham, and especially to their own homes, and to any others developmens along all the old river valleys in the city.
Why don’t they just admit they are Nimbys who don’t want the value of their mansions impacted?
Perhaps we should value the knowledge of an older person and appreciate the many years of expertise that he has and is still willing to share.
True, but is his knowledge and experience related to water supplies?
The prescence of crumbling asbestos on the site isn’t that good for the environment either. If development is to be barred and the site is allowed to “rewild” then it should at least be cleared and made safe.
The 1884 covenant, still in place in June 2011 when the SW corner of the site was sold to Highways England, restricts the use of Patcham Court Farm land to agriculture and water only:
“the Corporation do hereby for themselves their successors and assigns
covenant with the said Marquess his heirs and assigns and other the
person or persons who under the Act of Philip and Mary may become
entitled to or interested in any lands now forming part of Patcham
Court Farm aforesaid and their respective assigns lessees tenants and
occupiers that the Corporation and their successors assigns will not
use the land rights and premises hereinbefore conveyed for any purposes
except Waterworks purposes and houses or other buildings in connection
therewith or for the service thereof or for farming or agricultural
purposes or some of such several purposes.”
The aquifer point is an interesting one particularly regarding development of Toads Hall Valley, which is directly above the chalk aquifer feeding Goldstone pumping station further to the south. The reason a lot of downland is owned by the council was to protect the aquifer and water supply to Brighton and Hove beneath.
Dr Rhodes doesn’t live near this proposed development, neither do I. We are opposed purely to protect the water and the village from further flooding. 82?? perhaps if you enjoy googling then look at CHAMP or the Brighton Aquifer Partnership or the CLIMAWAT project, look for the collapsed cavern or sinkhole on PCF or the Environment Agency and Southern Waters consultee response. Look up Brighton & Hove groundwater flood report and think about sending all that extra water down the sewers. Look up why the council own that land, look up the acts of parliament that were sought to protect it. Maybe research how at risk some of our water sources are, particularly near the coast. Answer to taking the risks and carrying on the way things are is desalination so have a look why London are not using the plant they have to save their residents from drought. this is a beginners list of what you should know before commenting. The first person to comment demonstrates clearly that the writer has no idea what the aquifer is and even less idea why this particular location is even more sensitive
Absolutely. A bit general but a massive amount about Patcham and that particular part of Patcham even more so. It was studied by the University of Brighton and others in a eu funded investigation. They chose this area partly due to its uniqueness. Building the bypass, which there were a few problems doing, added by being able to the collapsed cavern and signs of more. Flood 1 and Climawat. This is why so much is known about here. Different areas are marked by different source protection zones which show the water abstraction points vulnerability to pollution. Because this land is fissures, which is exactly what, when mining for water, they were looking for, contaminants can enter the water virtually instantly. Probably why a lot of the contaminants on the land have been left, purely by moving them could mobilise them and send them straight to the water supply. In times of high groundwater when flooding occurs in the village, Waterhall pumping station pumps like mad to reduce the levels. If it becomes too contaminated, and it’s close, and can’t pump, nothing can be done to reduce the levels and the site itself will send down a load more. Rain on the site currently just sinks into the ground slowing it’s descent. A bit may come off the road there but negligible in the grand scheme of things