WE WON'T give up. That was the defiant message this week from members of the Lydd Action Group as they continued their fight to save land at Allens Bank from being turned in to a landfill site. The group, which works to preserve the Romney Marsh, has been fighting a battle against Bretts aggregates for three years.

They are worried about possible pollution from the materials used to fill the land and say that it should be preserved as it is.

They lost their case in the High Court in May 2000 but say they have not given up hope.

Bretts were granted planning permission in 1999 and are required to start work within five years.

The land was supposed to be used to supply aggregates to Section 1 of the CTRL but as the rail link is near completion the Lydd Action Group is saying there is no need to dig it up.

Tom Smith Chairman of the action group has written to the DTLR about the subject. They confirmed that the section 1 contractors are acquiring aggregates from Bretts but admitted that the requirement for this will decline substantially next year and virtually cease in 2003.

Mr Smith said: "What I want to know is who else are Bretts supplying aggregates to? If they are not supplying any other constructor involved in sections other than Section 1 then they have no argument or reason to excavate Allens Bank. At the end of the day it is all down to money. They put money before people. It is the last land of its kind in the Romney Marsh. Once that goes there is no more. We are keeping are fingers crossed that Bretts will run out of time."

A senior spokeman for Robert Brett and Sons said: "I re-confirm that minerals from Allens Bank will of course be worked in accordance to conditions of the planning permission and all other associated consents or licenses required for that purpose. I also re-confirm that none of our commercial arrangements along the entire length of the CTRL-sections 1 or 2-are matter open to discussion with yourself or the Lydd Action Group."