Residents urged to oppose quarry plans near Newport

Proposals to build a quarry to extract sand and gravel from a site off Pave Lane in Chetwynd Aston are due to go before Telford & Wrekin Council's planning committee next week.

And councillors representing the area are urging people to attend the meeting to voice their concerns.

This meeting will decide as to whether Telford & Wrekin Council will support or oppose the quarry development at a planning inquiry which has been arranged for November this year.

Residents raised concerns about the volume of vehicles using the roads, not only around Chetwynd Aston but also into Church Aston and Newport.

The Newport Society, has also opposed the project earmarked for Chetwynd Aston, and said that plans to extract sand and gravel from a site off Pave Lane would impact on health and wellbeing and could result in a loss of biodiversity.

Councillor Andrew Eade, ward member for Church Aston and Lilleshall said: "We have now arrived at a crunch time for this planning application which after 10 long months is finally reaching its end.

"If this application is successful, not only will we see 50 hectares of our countryside ripped up but also 20 years of landfill operations and a substantial concrete works with a huge daily volume of lorry movements of over 120 per day.

"Following our packed public consultation at Chetwynd Aston last June, Telford & Wrekin Council has received an unprecedented 153 written objections to the application, which clearly shows the depth of feeling on the proposed quarry which would blight Newport and its surrounding area for a generation.

"Fighting to persuade Telford & Wrekin's planning committee to refuse this application is vital and Wednesday's meeting could prove a turning point in our battle against this disaster.

"I would urge all residents who are able to attend Wednesday's meeting to come along in person and demonstrate just how strong their opposition is to these community-changing proposals."

The meeting will take place at 6pm on April 5 at the Whitehouse Hotel in Wellington. Anyone who wants further information is urged to contact Councillor Eade by email andrew.eade@telford.gov.uk or calling 07976 100002.