Quarrying worries

I WRITE to you as a resident of Bidford-on-Avon, regarding the proposed quarry next to our village.

I really hope that Warwickshire County Council (WCC) is not going to make a unilateral decision about our corner of the county without real consultation with local residents and representatives, even though this may be unfavourable.

It appears RMC Materials have been dealing with a remote WCC rather than informing local parish and district councils at an early stage. But then I understand the district council has the proposed site outside of its development zone and the parish council is unlikely to approve.

RMC Materials estate manager has been quoted as saying the scheme "can go ahead without impact on the area".

How can the removal of 1.5 million tons NOT affect an area?

Having come originally from an area subjected to a number of large quarry sites, I can categorically state from personal experience that quarrying does have serious impacts upon the sites chosen - they are never the same again.

Indeed it would appear Greenfield sites turned quarries end up being in-filled with rubbish and then developed as an industrial estate - maybe that's a hidden agenda.

Let's not forget that this area was earmarked for industrial development at one stage and this was only prevented by a campaign by residents and councillors.

Five years is the projected timescale of operations at the quarry. This I doubt as longstanding residents have told me that the Dunnington site had a five-year life seven years ago. Bear in mind this site will also continue to operate to process the new site's materials. So can we believe this company?

Perhaps the plans for the quarry next to the river Avon in this beautiful location are being deliberately presented to create outrage so that another, as yet undeclared but profitable site, might be granted permission in contrived grateful preference. I do wonder.

So who actually benefits from this development? Obviously RMC Materials will secure profits by forever changing the site as it currently stands. The owner of the land gets his/her sale fee. Perhaps the county council will draw business rates from this currently agricultural site - I don't know. A few jobs may be safeguarded by the continuing development, but only a few.

South Warwickshire relies heavily upon tourism/visitors to aid the local economy, including Bidford-on-Avon with its popular Big Meadow. But who would want to visit a noisy, dusty and ugly quarry site? The few jobs sustained by the quarry cannot outweigh the loss of tourism/visitors to the area.

Mr M Franklin

Blenheim Close

Bidford-on-Avon