Quarry fears near Bridgnorth escalate on decision day
Businesses have spoken of their fears over plans for a quarry alongside a busy road near Bridgnorth being discussed by planners today.
Protesters in Shipley have been fighting a bid from JPE Holding to create a new quarry, which will see more than four million tonnes of sand and gravel extracted from the site on Bridgnorth Road.
According to campaigners, the new developments would see up to 100 lorries travelling to and from the site each day, adding to the local traffic flow dramatically.
Shropshire Council planning officers are recommending the scheme goes ahead, despite ongoing objections. Shropshire Council's south planning committee was meeting today.
The road, the A454, is home to country pubs and a number of garden centres. The main route also serves surrounding villages.
Conrad Brummell has been the proprietor at the Boycott Arms of Claverley, near the proposed route, for just over a year.
"Like most people in the area I am very much against the quarry," he said.
Accidents
"I used to be a biker myself and I know how busy those roads are.
"The major issue is going to be the lorries. It is nerve wracking enough already when you come down those small roads and there are lorries. The issues are going to increase four fold with the traffic."
Campaigners say that, so far this summer, five accidents have happened over eight weeks on the A454.
Other objections include concerns over the access, the safety of drivers on the A454, environmental issues and local water sources.
Mr Brummell added: "Everyone in the area will be affected. It will be especially bad for the families who have houses that back onto the area where the quarry will be. I think people have been fighting it for months."
If given the go-ahead the site will replace its nearby Seisdon operation which is due to close by the end of 2018. The company says it hopes the new quarry will operate for 14 years.
