Surrey Minerals Plan - consultation closes 18th December

6.17.00pm GMT Wed 2nd Dec 2009

The Surrey Minerals Plan has identified 6 sites in Spelthorne plus 4 for recycling

You have until the 10th December to let Surrey County Council know what you think about their Minerals Plan. Spelthorne is a key location for minerals extraction and the plan shows that this will not only continue but be extended to new sites.

The consultation document sets out the 11 preferred areas for mineral extraction of which 6 sites in Spelthorne:

• Home Farm Quarry extension , Shepperton

• Homers Farm, Bedfont

• King George VI Reservoir, Sunbury

• Manor Farm, Laleham

• Queen Mary Reservoir, Sunbury

• Watersplash Farm, Shepperton

In addition the plan identifies 4 areas in Spelthorne as potential aggregates recycling sites:

• Hithermoor Quarry

• Land west of Queen Mary Reservoir

• Oak Leaf Farm

• Shepperton Quarry

The consultation documents and the website for on-line comments are given below.

Or in writing to Surrey Minerals Plan, Freepost SEA 12430, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 7XT by completing paper response forms available from County Hall, Surrey libraries and Surrey District and Borough Councils.

This is a formal consultation process on a Development Plan document and in making a submission you are required to comment against the details of the plan (i.e. specific sites) and then state whether or not you regard the plan as being "sound".

Liberal Democrats do not endorse this process for public consultation and believe that aspects of the Development Plan approval process are deeply flawed. However this is the last chance we get to make representations on this plan and on that basis we cannot afford to ignore it.

Local Liberal Democrats are opposed to the extension of mineral extraction in Spelthorne on a number of grounds:

• Inadequate infrastructure to support the extra traffic, particularly in respect of the proposed rebuilding of Walton bridge

• Loss of local amenity

• The increased noise, traffic and dust

• Inadequate compensation for affected areas

• Long term failure of extraction companies to comply with the granted permissions

• Failure to re-instate used workings

• The use of Spelthorne as the aggregates recycling centre for Surrey

Related Link:

Surrey County Council website for Minerals Consultation