Concerns at proposals for huge village quarry
THERE is cross-party concern over the size of a proposal to create a huge quarry near a county village.
Fields directly to the south of the A4304, opposite the village of Misterton, could be excavated to make way for new sand and gravel excavations.
The site, proposed by building material company Tarmac, would be 284 acres – the equivalent of around 160 football pitches.
It would dwarf neighbouring Misterton, and also nearby Walcote and Cotesbach.
If approved by Leicestershire County Council, as the local Mineral Planning Authority, it would replace the Shawell Quarry, which is due to close in the next few years, and operate for up to 20 years.
But South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa says the sheer size of the quarry means it could add almost 75,000 heavy vehicles a year to the roads around the site.
Mr Costa said: “The plans for a new sand and gravel quarry near the village of Misterton are in their very early stages at present.
“However, I am concerned as to what have I seen so far, especially given the sheer size of the proposals which would decimate existing green land and would significantly add a huge number of HGVs to what is already a congested local road network.”
Councillor Jonathan Bateman, the Tory representative for Misterton on Harborough District Council, said: “I fully agree with Alberto’s concerns over these plans, particularly in regard to the loss of green space and natural habitat together with a massive increase in vehicle movements locally.
“Whilst we accept that the final decision in this case will lie with Leicestershire County Council, both myself and Alberto will continue working closely with local residents and parish councils to ensure that their voices are heard loud and clear.”
The local Liberal Democrat group, with Misterton spokesman Stephen Walkley leading the way, has also opposed the plans.
Mr Walkley said: “The quarry is bigger than Tarmac’s existing quarry at Shawell, will destroy farmland, with local wildlife and historic sites, and swamp local roads with even more heavy lorries.
“Tarmac’s own figures suggest 242 lorry movements a day – a lorry every two minutes on to the A4304 Lutterworth to Harborough road.
“The local roads and villages cannot cope with the current traffic levels.”
At this stage, Tarmac has only submitted an initial scoping report to the county council to determine what the impact of and issues associated with the proposal might be.
The company will need to follow this up by submitting a full planning application.
The report by David L Walker Ltd, chartered surveyors specialising in minerals and waste, outlines the intention to mitigate the visual impact of the quarry through hedgerows, tree planting and grassy screening mounds in places where the site will be visible from outside. The report added that an ecological assessment is under way to assess the possible impact on wildlife and flora.
75,000 HGVS A YEAR ADDED TO ‘ALREADY CONGESTED’ ROADS
This will include determining whether there are any active badger setts, identifying trees with features suitable for roosting bats and habitats suitable for amphibians, including the specially protected Great Crested Newt.
It will also outline suggested mitigation for any potential ecological harm.
Assessments have also shown that, once excavation is complete, “the majority of the site could be returned to its current agricultural land quality”.
A soil handling strategy would be drawn up to “ensure that the best and most versatile soil resources identified on site will be safeguarded for future use”.
A transport assessment will also be submitted to the council detailing the impact on the roads and the current flow of traffic. A new road would need to be created to allow access to the site, off the A4304, and the quarry operation would require buildings to be erected on site.
The site, if approved, would be expected to operate between 7am and 7pm Monday to Friday and 7pm to 2pm Saturday, excluding bank holidays, in line with the current hours at Shawell Quarry.
Tarmac has said consultation will be carried out throughout the planning process.