Date set for public inquiry on quarry

3:52pm Friday 16th May 2008

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A DATE has been fixed for a public inquiry into controversial planning applications made by a quarry owner.

An inquiry to decide whether or not South Gloucestershire Council's planning committee was right to refuse Cemex, owners of Wickwar quarry, permission to extend its operating hours has been set for Tuesday, September 30.

Last October the authority's planning committee refused Cemex's applications to extend its hours at the quarry saying the proposals would have an adverse effect on residents.

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

In November Cemex launched an appeal against the planning committee's decisions and also against an Enforcement Notice served by South Gloucestershire Council over breach of conditions.

Representatives from Cemex and South Gloucestershire Council are expected to appear at the inquiry in September to give evidence.

Charfield Parish Council has also said that it too will submit a written statement for the Planning Inspector for consideration during the inquiry.

A spokesman for the Planning Inspectorate said: "Anybody is welcome to speak at the inquiry. They just have to turn up on the first day and the inspector will take their details and then they will be asked to speak."

It is not yet known how long the inquiry will last or how much it will cost.

A South Gloucestershire Council spokesman said: "At the moment the inquiry is down for one day but this can be extended depending on the volume of evidence that is called and the number of parties asked to speak.

"South Gloucestershire Council will be involved presenting our evidence to the inspector."

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

The public inquiry into the Wickwar quarry applications is due to be held at The Ship, Alveston, on Tuesday, September 30.