Final mineral plan released for Wiltshire
8:00am Friday 10th February 2012 in News By Tom Mooney
Campaigners have declared themselves satisfied at the final plans for mineral extraction drawn up by Wiltshire Council.
The council has released a document ahead of its last round of consultation.
There was huge opposition to a number of the original sites, particularly in and around Calne, where 18 locations were earmarked.
Residents from areas including High Penn, Mile Elm, Heddington, Stockley, Broads Green, Derry Hill and Studley all feared they would be affected by the plans.
But the council has now narrowed down its original list of 62 to a final seven it proposes to utilise, including Compton Bassett and Minety.
Anne Henshaw, one of the chief opponents to the original sites, said: “We are pleased to note that the sites over whose inclusion the community fought are not going to be considered.
“We understand why the one at Compton Bassett is still included but there are still issues regarding lorry movements and traffic in that area. But from what we can see at the moment it is a fairly satisfactory solution.”
The seven sites would provide 1.2 million tonnes of aggregate per year, an amount the council deems to be sustainable. The council claims that figure will “balance the industry’s needs without compromising Wiltshire’s rich environmental and cultural heritage”.
The public has six weeks, until March 12, to comment on the final proposal.
Fleur de Rhe-Philipe, cabinet member for economy, said: “We believe we have a sound plan. This last round of consultation will enable people to look at the document and challenge any technical points or inaccuracies in the evidence on which we have based these plans.
“After much work and extensive public consultation we believe we are right to challenge the Government’s guideline figure on how much sand and gravel should be quarried in the county.
“We feel we have identified the right amount needed to meet the expected demand up to 2026 — the period of the plan.”
To have your say, visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk.
