More quarry trouble at Bletchingley

We have reported previously on problems of noise and dust being experienced by residents at Bletchingley from WBB's North Park Quarry. Following numerous complaints, a retrospective application has belatedly been submitted by the operators to SCC.

 

 

Local residents protest against the latest violations of the Green Belt

 

We have reported previously on problems of noise and dust being experienced by residents at Bletchingley from WBB's North Park Quarry. Following numerous complaints about the erected processing plant being of a different height, type and location from the one approved in 2004, a retrospective application has belatedly been submitted by the operators to Surrey County Council.

 

In the meantime, an application by Tarmac for a dry silo mortar plant (DSM) was considered by the Surrey Planning and Regulatory Committee at the end of February, despite requests that the two applications should be considered together.

 

CPRE supported the local residents’ group QOG (Quarry Observation Group - website) in objecting to this industrial use in the Green Belt. Unfortunately, because of a miscounting of the votes and the Chairman’s decision, after taking legal advice, to vote twice, the application was permitted.

 

Complaints from QOG and CPRE Surrey at the injustice of this decision have led to SCC agreeing to allow the Tarmac application to go to the relevant Committee again for reconsideration. Such is the public dissatisfaction with WBB that the North Park Quarry Community Liaison Committee has collapsed following a mass resignation of representatives from QOG, the Parish Councils of Bletchingley, Godstone and Tandridge and its Chairman Surrey County Councillor Marian Myland.

 

Local press coverage has been extensive because of public demonstrations against both WBB and Tarmac. Confidence in the Surrey County Council’s handling of development control and enforcement at the North Park Quarry is at a low ebb. A QOG spokesman stated: "I can only see the prospect of more trouble ahead unless our legitimate complaints are acted upon quickly by the SCC."

 

CPRE Surrey fully support the well informed campaign QOG has led. It is surprising that with Tandridge local elections in May, there seems to be so little sense of urgency at SCC to put matters right.