Petition against new quarry near Newport is handed to planning inquiry

More than 50 residents from around Chetwynd Aston and Newport attended the opening day of the six-day inquiry into plans for a new sand and gravel extraction business off Pave Lane.

There they handed over a petition to the planning inspector, with 1,048 signatures expressing concerns over the plans.

On the opening day an expert told the hearing that there was falling demand for these sites as the building industry was now using more recycled materials.

Quarry operator Mick George Ltd wants to develop a new operation in Chetwynd Aston near Newport, which will later be filled in with construction material.

But the planning application made in May 2016 was refused by Telford & Wrekin Council resulting in an appeal being submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by the developers.

At the hearing being held at the Whitehouse Hotel, in Telford, waste management planning consultant Deborah Sacks, on behalf, of the council said: “There is no need for additional capacity for inert landfill. All through the country landfill sites are closing down and being mothballed.

“The additional capacity is not needed in the area. If there is insufficient material to restore the site it will take a significantly longer time to restore the site, disruption will be longer and there will be a delay in the ecological recovery of the site.”

“Generally speaking, sites are being restored at lower levels than when they were first set up because levels are lower than first anticipated.

“There are only three sites in this area. I did spend time calling some of the other operators and several of them told me it was taking considerable time to source material and that business is very slow. The policy in the UK is to reduce and reuse waste to get reduced landfill.”

Mr Andrew Fraser QC, on behalf of Mick George Ltd, told the inquiry that an estimated 2.56 million tonnes of minerals would be extracted in phases and an estimated 1.5 million of suitable inert material brought there “for the purposes of beneficial restoration”.

He said: “It is an important preliminary consideration to understand that the scheme is promoted by an operator which has an unusually sustainable building model.” The inquiry continues.

As will be demonstrated by evidence from the company, MGL operates a model which invariably offers a complete service to construction operators whereby aggregates are supplied and at the same time and on the same vehicles, inert waste is removed.”

Mr Vincent Fraser QC, representing the council, told the inquiry: “The starting point for consideration of this appeal is that this is an unallocated site.

“The site is at present being considered in the context of Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire Minerals Plan.

“A clear conclusion was reached in that policy that we say was not a suitable site for the lease and that there are better sites in the area.”