Minerals extraction plan puts beauty spot ‘at risk’
REVISED STRATEGY MET WITH FEARS FOR WILDLIFE AS SUGGESTED SITE WOULD BE OPPOSITE NATURE RESERVE
FRESH fears for the future of a nature reserve and its wildlife have arisen after councillors voted through a strategy for the future of mineral extraction across Nottinghamshire.
Nottinghamshire County Council first began preparing the plan in November 2017 before it was scrapped amid unhappiness from residents, companies and councillors.
The county has since been without any strategy for the future mining of minerals such as sand, gravel and gypsum, as well as building stone, brick clay and oil.
However, during a full council meeting on Thursday a new and revised strategy was passed.
Originally the Minerals Local Plan had set out potential for a new gravel pit in Shelford, but leader of the county council, councillor Kay Cutts, raised an issue with the ferrying of minerals along the River Trent towards Gedling.
During the meeting she said transportation would continue from here via trucks, affecting the roads considerably, while a new screening plant would have to be built next to the busy A6097.
The revised plan therefore scrapped Shelford and instead suggested a gravel pit could be built opposite Attenborough Nature Reserve in a large open area of Barton-in-fabis called Mill Hill.
This came as a disappointment for the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, which now owns the reserve after a successful appeal to raise £1 million.
Erin Mcdaid, head of communications for the Trust, said: “Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is extremely disappointed the potential minerals extraction site at Barton-in-fabis has been included in the approved Minerals Plan.
“We objected vigorously to this allocation at all stages of the process up to and including the examination in public as we believe it will damage designated wildlife sites and risks disturbance to wildlife at Attenborough Nature Reserve – a site of national importance.
“We have previously objected to a planning application to extract minerals at the Barton site and our objections remain - so it is our intention to continue fighting it through the planning system.”
During the meeting to approve the strategy, the Labour Group abstained from the vote, with councillor for Worksop North, Alan Rhodes, describing the new plan as “regrettable”.
He said the move away from Shelford to Barton-in-fabis was a “political” decision. In total, 22 councillors abstained, seven voted against the strategy, while 35 voted for the plans.
Councillor Steve Carr, the deputy leader of Broxtowe Borough Council who represents Beeston North for the Lib Dems, spoke vocally of his concerns for Attenborough Nature Reserve.
He said: “I could not vote for this.
“The nature reserve is much loved by residents all over Broxtowe
and beyond.
“I simply cannot believe that local Conservative councillors including councillors Doddy, Longden, Jackson and Kerry voted to put Attenborough at risk.”
However, it was argued the new strategy underwent scrutiny from Government inspector Nick Palmer, who concluded the plan was sound subject to a few modifications.
One such modification was the need for “additional detailed requirements” with respect to the Mill Hill site and the impacts on the area.
Councillor John Cottee, chairman of communities and place for the county council, assured the meeting any plan for a new gravel pit would also be subject to a planning application beforehand.
He said: “There will be substantial measures to minimise noise and dust and disruption to nearby habitats and residents, and hopefully that will be in the conditions when planning.”
As well as including policies addressing the social and environmental aspects of mineral working, the plan also identifies the location of future minerals sites to meet expected future demand.
Councillor Kay Cutts added: “This is a thorough and detailed Minerals Plan and its adoption will provide the planning blueprint for assessing minerals development in Nottinghamshire over the next 15 years.
“It will also ensure that all development is carried out in a sustainable way for future generations.”