AN ENVIRONMENTALIST'S plans to use shipping containers to store thrown away items before reusing them is in jeopardy unless a suitable site can be found within a matter of days.

Cat Fletcher successfully raised £12,500 in a crowdfunding project in June to fund her plans for a shipping container village storing thrown-away items for reuse.

But her vision has been thrown into disarray after plans to house the centre at Preston Barracks in Brighton fell through, leaving her in limbo.

The award-winning pioneer, who has received international recognition for her work on Brighton’s Waste House, described the situation as “incredibly frustrating” having now been left “running around” trying to find a new location at extremely short notice.

The eight shipping containers are currently being stored on land in Mid Sussex but the lease is coming to an end before the end of the month, meaning they will have to be relocated within weeks.

Moving the containers back into Brighton is likely to cost in excess of £3,000.

Without a solution, Miss Fletcher said she may be forced to sell the containers and start again from scratch.

She said when she bought the shipping containers she thought she would be able to use Preston Barracks but has not been able to secure permission.

The delay to the reuse depot and moving the containers, which are full of materials ready to be offered up for reuse, also means that Miss Fletcher is unable to carry out her normal day-to-day work in collecting waste items.

She said she has been forced into making 40 mile round trips to deliver reuse items from the shipping containers to Brighton doorsteps.

She said: “What’s also frustrating is that I am no longer in a position to intercept any waste.

“Tonnes and tonnes of material is offered up to me every week, people begging me to take it off them rather than it going to the tip and I cannot help people who need things.”

Ms Fletcher said the situation has left her questioning herself but she has been grateful for all the support from backers.

She said: “Since doing the appeal, so many people have emailed me to say ‘don’t worry about the money, we trust you to do the right thing’.

“[Developers] QED have been so good, keeping me sane and letting me use their land for free.

Anyone who can help is asked to email cityreusedepot@gmail.com.

For more information visit brightgreenpenguin.com/blog/2015/10/4/city-reuse-depot-urgently-needs-your-help.