People living near a rubbish and recycling centre in Brighton have been waiting six years for a report on the site’s suitability that they were promised after a fire there.
Members of the Round Hill Society asked for a report on the suitability of the Veolia Materials and Recovery Facility and waste transfer station, in Hollingdean, after the fire in August 2019 caused by a disposable barbecue.
In November 2019, Round Hill Society committee member Dominic Furlong told a meeting that homes in the area were filled with smoke during the fire.
Brighton and Hove City Council’s now-defunct Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee agreed that what happened should be the subject of an independent report.
Mr Furlong chased up report after two later fires, raising concerns about toxic fumes coming from the site.
More than six years after the initial fire, on Monday 5 January, he wrote to Labour councillor Tim Rowkins, the council’s cabinet member for environmental services, to ask about the long-promised report.
He said that, even though there has been a waste site in Upper Hollingdean Road for 100 years, when it was first built, it was on the edge of town.
Mr Furlong said: “On (Wednesday) 16 July 2025, I submitted an official complaint to the council about the non-delivery of the report.
“I received an automated acknowledgement within two days but have heard nothing since then, despite sending a follow-up email on (Tuesday) 30 September.
“In not delivering the report, and in not responding to my official complaint in a timely manner, the council’s maladministration of this matter has undermined the process of local democracy.
“Round Hill residents have put considerable resources into bringing the original deputation before the council and in chasing this report.”
Green councillor Raphael Hill has also asked Councillor Rowkins about the report and raised concerns about the smell coming from the site particularly in the summer.
Councillor Rowkins, the deputy leader of the council, said that the report was not complete.
He said: “The Veolia Materials Recovery Facility and waste transfer station at our site in Hollingdean are an important part of this city’s waste processing infrastructure and benefit all our residents.
“The site is monitored by the appropriate agencies and through our contract management arrangements.
“We are aware of an historic decision by a previous administration to review the suitability of the site and plan to make an assessment in the coming months, the findings of which we will happily share with residents and the Round Hill Society.”
Councillor Tim Rowkins not doing what he said he would.
The council not doing a report about fire risks.
The council not responding to a complaint.
They have form and the frequency of these kind of things being ignored is pretty clear for residents to see.
Going by the article, reports like this take a long time, considering their complexity, and this one is not finished yet. Rowkins is doing what he said he would, it’s just not finished. Council are responding to a complaint, but the report is not finished yet, so there’s nothing substantive to update. It’s not being ignored because it’s not finished yet.
What I will give you is that Furlong should have been updated with at least a simple “report is underway, it is not finished yet” or an acknowledgement that it is still being progressed. That was poor communication.
Six years for this report is not acceptable.
Saying it’s ‘not complete’ is either a lie or mismanagement or both.
At the very least and interim/outline report should be ready detailing it’s scope and current state.
Depends on the complexity and depth of the report, really. Although re-reading the article, the wording from Cllr. Rowkins suggests the previous administration didn’t finish the job, and now the current one is scrambling to assess what should’ve already been published.
To be honest, that just reeks of a half-finished project abandoned by Green leadership. Which absolutely tracks with their record. Again, I do think this could have been a non-issue by responding to Furlong back in July.
Nah it’s mismanagement. Report your bin is broken and see how long it takes to get a replacement. Report graffiti and see how many millennia pass before it’s painted over. I don’t blame whichever party is in charge because they actually get replaced every 5 years. The halfwits at that depot and the town hall for that matter lol they are there for life and an easy one at that, no management getting sacked there…
November 2019 was a Labour administration….
In November 2019, Brighton and Hove City Council was under no overall control, with the Green Party being the largest single party.
Benjamin, Labour remained the largest party at the local elections in May 2019, with no overall control, but resignations reduced the number of seats they held until, in July 2020, the Greens became the largest party.
https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2020/07/20/greens-become-brighton-and-hoves-largest-party-after-another-labour-councillor-quits/
The six-year wait for this report reflects badly on the Greens, Labour and the officers. Officers are supposed to be impartial and professional public servants. The public has been ill-served by them all in this episode, but the Tories, Reform and the Lib Dems offer no alternative in these parts.
Realistically, the Veolia plant in Hollingdean isn’t going anywhere any time soon, if ever. It doesn’t mean the council and Veolia can’t work with the community to reduce the risks of any more problems there. Instead, we get six years of shoulder-shrugging, silence or excuses. It smacks of contempt for voters and tax-payers and their children.
We locals have been complaining about the Waste Transfer Station since it opened in 2009. We were told it wouldn’t be noisy or smelly. It is noisy and smelly. Someone from the Environment Agency came to see us & inspect the site years ago. He concluded thst the build quality is inadequate and the location is inappropriate. There, I’ve done the report for you BHCC.
When this was built it was on the edge of town. Now it is a large site surrounded by housing. I wonder if the report should also look at another option – that is to move the site to the current edge of the city (not easy, but possible) and then using this land for new housing both private and social. It is in an area with great bus connections, a train station and relatively close to the city centre. The land would be worth a fortune – so much so that new private homes could help finance much-needed social homes
This could be a real win. Would take some imagination and years to achieve, but something worth considering? It has taken 6 years to get this report – perhaps worth spending some time looking at the viability of this?
I totally agree, particularly as they’re demolishing the 2 tower blocks at the top of Upper Hollingdean Road because they don’t meet modern safety standards for fire.
Yes. If the council had lots of vision, they could build some new flats next door on the current storage/offices while the work is moved from the depot. Let people move a very short distance into the new flats. Knock down the current unsafe ones, replace with new and so double social housing on the site. Use the sale of the rest of land for private housing to pay for the depot move and new social housing. Win all round!
It’s unacceptable Benji
And your comments
Thanks for your feedback.