CASTLEWOOD LANDFILL SITE, ROTHERFIELD - East Sussex ...

CASTLEWOOD LANDFILL SITE, ROTHERFIELD(Grid reference TQ 553 276)There are closed landfill sites close together which are located on WadhurstClay in a natural valley. They lie approximately 3 km south east ofCrowborough and 2 km south of Rotherfield.1959 May Planning permission granted for controlled tipping of refuse byUckfield Rural District Council. (WD/1959/234T/F)1971 Aug Planning permission granted for extension of tipping area.(WD1971/619/F)1971 Uckfield Rural District Council commenced waste disposaloperations at the site west of the current concrete access road.1974 The site was operated by Wealden District Council as agents forthe newly formed East Sussex County Council.1974 April A site inspection was carried out. The report states that "beforewaste is deposited a chamber is excavated and then filled withlayers of waste and excavated soil". Vehicles reached the tippingarea by driving down a "steep concrete road". The report statedthat they then "back onto a narrow platform of wooden sleepersand then tip the refuse down into the area being built up". Thewaste was then compacted.The site foreman estimated that the site accepted approximately70 tonnes of waste per day, i.e. 18,000 tonnes per year.On each side of the tipping area were wire screens whichcontained any wind blown litter. Cover was applied each day.The report stated that "tipping is finished off in the form of a dometo counteract any subsidence". An area of the site had beenrestored and grassed over and was being used for grazing sheep.1974 Oct Another site inspection was carried out by East Sussex CountyCouncil. The report stated that approximately half of the existingsite was at finished levels. A small field at the top of the site hadbeen covered with top soil and grassed.1975 Jan Planning permission was granted to extend the existing site to anarea east of the concrete access road.1975 - 1976 Preparatory works were carried out on the new site. This wascompleted by the end of April. Further deposition of waste wasthen carried out on the old (west) site over-tipping that alreadyfilled.

1980 June Agreement was reached on re-seeding the site for agriculturaluse.1992 Further restoration was carried out at the site and a leachatecollection system was installed.1993 A gabion wall was constructed at the site to reinstate a bank slipand the leachate drainage system was enhanced.1993 Oct Restoration works were carried out to restore the western field tograzing but glass was still present in the surface.1995 Extensive stone and glass picking programme carried out on“middle” field.1996 The “top & middle” fields were sold to a local farmer.1998 Sept Planning application for the construction of a leachate lagoon forstorage of leachate produced on site. (WD/1998/1435/CC)1999 The land owner died and a new owner bought the house and partof the land.1999 Oct A local farmer bought the bottom/blue field and the lower ‘half’ ofthe access track.1999/2000 A large leachate lagoon was constructed to hold additionalleachate collected on site.To DateEast Sussex County Council continues to monitor the site forlandfill gas and remove leachate to waste water treatment works.The current annual volume of leachate is approximately 1.3million gallons.