THE public consultation into controversial plans for a massive new quarry near Upton Upon Severn has now finished.
Residents were given until October 8 to have their say on an application to develop land at Bow Lane, near Ripple, for a massive quarry where more than 1.5 million tons of gravel and sand will be dug up over the next decade.
Plans submitted to Worcestershire County Council by M C Cullimore (Gravels) Ltd would see the 1.5 million tons of material extracted over the next seven years.
The Ripple Extraction Action Community Team (REACT), which is a group of residents opposed to the dig, said: “The main areas of concern of the group, as well as the increased risk of flooding, are the inevitable dust pollution that will result in excavating an area of that size as well as the noise that will result from the proposed construction of a processing plant.
READ MORE: Villagers oppose controversial Ripple Quarry plans
“REACT are also concerned about the impact of the Cullimores’ lorries on local traffic throughout the excavation period.”
Despite this, planning documents say the impact will not be overly severe and that the land will be redeveloped into a nature reserve once the work is finished.
The environmental statement attached to the plan says: “The nature conservation area would comprise a mosaic of wetland grassland, scrapes and shallows, woodland and open water.
“The proposed scheme would also result in an additional 700 metres of hedgerow planting compared with current baseline conditions.”
Ripple Parish Council also recommended refusal of the plans.
READ MORE: More details on plans to dig up more than 1.5 million tons of gravel at Ripple
Its submission to the plan says: “RPC recognise the importance of maintaining mineral supplies but this should be from sites where proposals do so in the most environmentally and sympathetic manner and which, in this case scenario, both mitigate and decrease the risk of flooding.
“Proposals should not adversely affect the Health and Welfare of local residents, business, and recreational facilities, and fully comply with Planning Statements.”
The council also requested that the site only operates from 7am until 6pm from Monday to Friday with no weekend or bank holiday work, should the plans be approved.
The full planning application can be viewed at e-planning.worcestershire.gov.uk/ using the planning reference 19/000048/CM