News shared by Cheryl on behalf of the campaign group, WAGE (Wootton, Whippingham and Arreton Against Gravel Extraction), in her own words. Ed
Over 100 objections have been submitted to the Isle of Wight council in response to the planning application by Wight Building Materials to extract gravel at Palmers Farm in Wootton.
Outlining many detailed and material arguments against the proposed plans, objections have come not just from local residents, but also organisations such as Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and CYCLEWight and regular visitors to the area.
Concerns cited
The lack of any full and independent Environmental Impact Assessment was cited by many as of particular concern. Natural England have stated the application does not contain enough information to determine the impact of potentially significant effects on the Solent and Southampton Water Special Protection Area (SPA), the internationally important wild bird habitat identified by the Ramsar convention, the Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the Kings Quay Shore Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Objection from parish councils
The parish councils for Wootton, Whippingham and Arreton have all strongly objected to the plans.
In addition to the environmental concerns, they raised numerous issues regarding the impact in terms of noise and pollution to residents, the unsuitability of the roads in question for 50 movements a day by HGVs, overall road safety and particular risk to horse riders, walkers, and cyclists.
Pitcher: Absolutely the wrong scheme in the wrong place
Wootton councillor, Daryl Pitcher, explained,
“I have been a strong objector to these plans from the outset and I hope the reasoned voices of so many local residents will be listened to by the planning committee. As I have said before this is absolutely the wrong scheme in the wrong place.”
“Sand and gravel deposits in many areas on the Island”
WAGE (Wootton, Whippingham and Arreton Against Gravel Extraction) also commented,
“We acknowledge there were also a number of supporting comments submitted from non-local Islanders. Many of the these comments were made on the basis that gravel extraction at Palmers Farm is the most environmentally friendly option.
“Yet they make no mention whatsoever of the ability to increase the use of recycled aggregates for which the Island has capacity to process 180,000 tonnes a year. Many also cite the only alternative would be to transport gravel hundreds of miles and ship it from the mainland.
“These arguments also ignore the fact that the council’s own mineral assessments show that there are sand and gravel deposits in many areas on the Island and enough marine sand and gravel available to meet all the Island’s needs for decades to come.”
For full details on the areas of concern and for more information please visit the Website or email [email protected]
Image: Teunie van Hernen under CC BY 2.0
