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The controversial delivery office would be built on land in Patcham Court Farm in Vale Avenue, Brighton, and would include new storage facilities and a vehicle maintenance facility.
However, local residents and campaigners from Patcham Against Royal Mail have raised concerns that the development would put the city’s local drinking water at risk of contamination and threaten a nearby conservation and heritage site.
In a poll of more than 1,200 readers, a staggering 93 per cent objected to the proposal put forward by Royal Mail.
Opposition to the planning application has attracted cross-party support, with Conservative group leader on Brighton and Hove City Council Alistair McNair and Green Party candidate for Brighton Pavilion Sian Berry attending a protest on the issue over the weekend.
Ms Berry shared concerns about the future of the aquifer if the plans are approved and said: “The water supply is already on the edge in terms of pollution from nitrates so you cannot take the risk with a new development.”
Cllr McNair criticised Royal Mail for the lack of consultation of residents on the proposed site, which he said would also bring huge amounts of traffic to a normally tranquil part of the city.
He said: “Royal Mail could come here and answer people’s questions and be direct and be honest, but they haven’t bothered as they’re not interested.”
Around 160 people took part in the protest outside the proposed site on Sunday.
Local resident Jill Carr raised concern for the future of the aquifer and said: “As sea levels rise, the leakage stations may begin to be infiltrated with seawater.
“Longer periods of drought could affect the quality and amount of groundwater supplies available to the city.
“100 per cent of Brighton and Hove residents’ drinking water comes from the Brighton Chalk Block aquifer, so it is vital we protect and improve the groundwater in this valuable natural resource.”
More than 900 public comments have already been made on the application on the council’s website.
One person objecting to the plan said: “If this were to go ahead, it would have a hugely detrimental effect on the surrounding neighbourhood.
“Patcham village remains a quiet and desirable residential area. To locate a major industrial building in such a location goes against all current thinking on maintaining a Green environment.
“There are a large number of brownfield sites across the city which could easily provide facilities for Royal Mail without having this potentially disastrous effect on the local environment.”
Royal Mail claims the Patcham site is “the only one suitable to preserve the Royal Mail service to Brighton and Hove”.
A spokesman for Royal Mail said: “A new Patcham delivery office would consolidate the services from two current sites – North Road in Brighton and Demark Villas in Hove.
“The Patcham site’s benefits include major road connections to Gatwick Mail Centre via the A23 and an out-of-town location – reducing Royal Mail vehicle journeys and distances in Brighton and Hove.”
Should planning permission be granted, construction could begin as soon as April 2025, with the site becoming operational by summer 2026.
A decision is due to be made on the project by the council in the autumn.
Council leader Bella Sankey said: “We are aware of the strongly held views of Patcham Against Royal Mail in relation to plans to develop the Patcham Court Farm site.
“As things stand, Royal Mail has made proposals and has submitted a revised planning application to the council. The council has a regulatory role in relation to all planning applications which are subject to planning rules. These rules take into account local impact and I would encourage any residents affected by the proposals to engage with the planning process.
“When it comes to the potential sale of the land by the council, residents can rest assured that we will consult them before any final decisions are made.
“This is what Labour promised to do in our manifesto and we have every intention of listening to residents and making the right decision for the City. All proposals for the area will be considered along with other possible uses for the land.”
