Deadline approaches for quarry appeal responses

10:30am Tuesday 19th February 2008

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TIME is running out for people to comment on a planning appeal lodged by Wickwar quarry owners Cemex.

Residents wanting to comment on the company's applications to extend its operating hours at the quarry have until Monday, February 25 to make submissions to the Planning Inspectorate.

South Gloucestershire Council's planning committee refused Cemex's bid to extend its hours last October, saying the proposals would have an adverse affect on residents.

The company had requested that the concrete plant at the quarry be allowed to run from 5.30am to 10pm Mondays to Fridays and 5.30am to 12pm on Saturdays and the coating plant 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

However, Cemex then launched an appeal against the planning committee's decision and also against an enforcement notice served by the council.

In its application for appeal Cemex claimed: "The evidence presented to the council by the local residents upon which the council relied on refusing the applications fails to conclusively demonstrate that unacceptable adverse harm would result."

Local parties who were initially against Cemex's applications have pledged to fight the appeal.

Colin Baker, from the Wickwar Residents Action Group, said: "We want to do everything we can to help South Gloucestershire Council uphold its decision on the quarry's applications.

"We have been providing information on the nuisance value from the quarry to officers as part of this.

"It is important we get behind the council and give it all the support we can."

Charfield Parish Council has also decided to continue to fight the applications.

Ian Southcott, UK community affairs manager for Cemex, said as well as lodging the appeal the company had also submitted a revised application, seeking permission to operate the coating plant round the clock on no more than 60 days a year.

He said: "Although this will reduce flexibility, the company believes it represents a reasonable compromise. It should be remembered that the original application never envisaged round the clock operations throughout the year but was so presented to provide the flexibility to meet demand when it arose."

Mr Southcott also said if the revised application was successful, the appeals would be withdrawn.

A fourth application by Cemex to extend the existing limestone quarry towards Charfield is yet to be discussed by the council's planning committee.