WYRE Forest residents are once again being urged to have their say on controversial plans for a sand and gravel quarry at Lea Castle Farm.
A public consultation has been reopened after developers NRS Aggregates wrote to Worcestershire County Council to submit further information about the plans.
The matters include landscape and visual impact, ecology and biodiversity, arboriculture, water environment, rights of way and leisure and recreation, with the county council now seeking comments on this additional information.
The Stop Lea Castle Farm Quarry Action Group are reaching out to the local community to send their objections to the plans on the Worcestershire County Council planning website before September 9, 2021.
The group will be holding a public meeting at Heathfield Knoll School Sports Hall on September 6 at 6.30pm to discuss the application.
NRS Aggregates is seeking planning permission to extract approximately three million tonnes of sand and gravel over a total of six phases taking approximately 11 years to complete.
The company says materials from the quarry will supply much-needed aggregates to maintain local roads and build new housing, but an action group set up in June last year remains concerned the countryside will be spoiled beyond repair.
They have raised concerns about the destruction of Lea Castle Farm’s “beautiful unspoilt countryside,” noise pollution, and widespread exposure to harmful mineral dust for residents and children attending the five schools within less than a mile from the proposed site.
A planning application was submitted at the end of 2019, following a period of public consultation.
Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier previously spoke out against the plans, saying: “Whilst there are significant rules governing dust emissions from quarries, can the operators really guarantee that there will never be occasions of significant dust? And will residents be victims of noise pollution?”
Previously, a spokesperson for NRS Aggregates said: “We recognise that some people have concerns about aspects of the proposals, but we have worked to address these in the application.
People can view the plans via www.worcestershire.gov.uk/eplanning using the application reference 19/000053/CM. Those who wish to share their comments about the application with the council can do so on the planning site, or by emailing devcontrolteam@worcestershire.gov.uk.
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