Plans for new quarry near Coventry to be unveiled

[dutchman]

Plans for a huge new sand and gravel pit just outside Coventry are set to be unveiled.

Smiths Concrete wants to convert a 90 hectare site at Wolston Fields Farm into a quarry and is staging an exhibition of its plans on Monday January 30.

The proposal is to extract 990,000 tonnes of sand and gravel at a rate of about 170,000 tonnes a year.

The material will then be transported by road to Smiths Concrete’s processing plant in Bubbenhall, about three miles away.

The initial plans have already raised concerns from Garden Organic, at Ryton Gardens, in Wolston Lane, which is very near the proposed site.

Chief executive Myles Bremner said: “Our initial reaction is clearly one of concern about what impact the development might have on Ryton Gardens. The size and scale is quite considerable.

“We are pleased that Smiths Concrete told us about their plans and that there is to be a public exhibition but there doesn’t seem to have been much consultation before this stage. It will be interesting to see how much opportunity there is for positive consultation on these plans.”

He added he has two main concerns about the impact the quarry will have on Garden Organic at Ryton.

“Our first concern is that Ryton Gardens is home to nationally and internationally significant plant collections. We have a heritage seed library where we grow and conserve hundreds of rare fruits and vegetable collections. We are concerned about the potential impact from dust and pollution,” Mr Bremner said.

“Our second concern is over transport. There will be lorries coming in and out of an entrance which we believe could be right opposite us. We have tens of thousands of visitors and we have grave concerns about the danger to our visitors from heavy traffic. This is a fast road.”

The application from Smiths Concrete, which will be submitted to Warwickshire County Council, will include a full environmental impact assessment covering issues including dust, noise and visual impact.

When extraction work is eventually completed the plan is for the land to be restored to agriculture and wetland habitats.

The exhibition of plans will be at Wolston Leisure and Community Centre, Manor Estate, from 2-7.30pm. Mark Page, planning manager for Smiths Concrete, said: “It is important that local people are aware of our proposals before we submit a planning application. I hope as many people as possible come and see the plans and let us have their comments.”

[dutchman]

Residents oppose new plans for sand and gravel quarry at Wolston Fields Farm, near Coventry.

NEIGHBOURS are furious at plans for a huge sand and gravel pit in a village near Coventry.

Smiths Concrete is looking to convert a 90-hectare (222-acre) site at Wolston Fields Farm into a quarry which would extract nearly a million tonnes of sand and gravel over the next six years.

Residents in Wolston and other nearby villages fear the proposal will lead to noisy lorries thundering through the Warwickshire countryside.

Details of the proposals were unveiled to residents at Wolston Leisure Centre, in Manor Estate, this week.

Many fear it will have a major impact on their quality of life.

Traffic is a major concern with material being transported in up to four lorries each hour to Smiths Concrete’s processing plant in Bubbenhall three miles away.


Andy Duncan of Smiths Concrete talks to Wolston residents Jeff Chatwin and Lesley Blay

Jeff Chatwin, aged 64, a retired teacher, of Meadow Road, Wolston, said: “The firm has said there wouldn’t be anything coming to villagers as compensation for it.

“We moved here for a peaceful life away from busy traffic and the hustle and bustle of city life and now it’s likely to come to us with lorries coming back and forth each day.”

Lesley Blay, aged 62, of Paddock Close, Wolston, says their lives will be “blighted” by noise, dust and heavy traffic as lorries come in and out of Wolston.

She said: “There is the obvious concern about dust and it being worse during the hot summer – that’s another major problem for us. Areas such as Ryton and Bubbenhall will also be affected by this.”

The site will include ponds and a floodplain forest landscape with lakes connected to the river.

Public footpaths would also be restored and new routes added.

John Milne, aged 70, who runs his own painting and decorating firm, said: “I think the question is whether Wolston has played its fair share over the years for having quarries and I think it has.

“The whole area is surrounded by quarries that are now filled in. There will be no processing on the site so that makes it different from the other quarries – whether it gets planning permission is another matter.”

Mike Knight, manager for Smiths Concrete, admitted the benefits to the community would be “relatively small”.

He said: “There are biodiversity benefits on the site. Footpaths will be restored and we’ll also have an added route around the River Avon. Most of the site will be wet so dust is not as likely to occur.

“The process of production which will happen in Bubbenhall will be dry. There is likely to be impact to the roads which we can’t help.”

Smiths Concrete will submit the planning application in the next few weeks followed by a public consultation.