**Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan - local sites - IMPORTANT**
The Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan update which was published last week has two local sites proposed for gravel and sand extraction; The Triangle bordered by Ryedown Lane, Gardeners Lane and the A3090 dual carriageway and Dunwood Fruit Farm on the A27 at Sherfield English.
Both have been recommended for development before, and both have been rejected for very good reasons. Once again they have been included in the plan and it is important that local residents have their say.
The sites under consideration are in the graphics below. I have concerns about both which I have listed below. If you agree with me that they are inappropriate sites for mineral extraction, I would urge you to respond to the consultation to ensure your voice is heard.
The consultation runs until 31st January and you can send your comments to: hmwp.consult@hants.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can log them on the HCC website here: https://www.hants.gov.uk/minerals-waste-update
Finally, there is a public exhibition to provide more detail on the plans tomorrow (Wednesday 16th November) from 4pm to 7pm at Romsey Town Hall.
The sites are:
THE TRIANGLE, RYEDOWN LANE
The Triangle is the piece of land at the top of Pauncefoot Hill, bounded by Gardeners Lane, Ryedown Lane and the A3090 dual carriageway.
The site was originally included in a 1998 version of the plan, was then refused permission in 2001 and that refusal was upheld by the Planning Inspectorate in 2003.
There are numerous concerns with the site. Highway concerns immediately come to mind. Gardeners Lane, Ryedown Lane and their junctions with the dual carriageway are entirely inappropriate for lorry traffic in my view. There are also potential issues with hydrology and what might happen to water displaced by any quarrying activity in this location.
The site is prominent, it is above Romsey, the likelihood of disturbance for the wider area as a result of noise and vastly increased lorry movements is considerable.
The site is adjacent to historic woodland and to the homes along Gardener's Lane. The ecological disturbance would be huge.
DUNWOOD FRUIT FARM, SHERFIELD ENGLISH
The second site under consideration is Dunwood Fruit Farm which is on the A27 between the Newtown Lane and Frenches turnings.
The proposal is for gravel and sand extraction on land behind the farm, access would be gained by a new road created along the route of the existing footpath to the south of the former chipping depot.
Again, highway concerns are considerable here. Disturbance to the residents of Newtown lane nearest to the site would be unacceptable.
The public footpath would be disrupted, but perhaps most importantly the landscape character and ecological balance of this important area, (situated as it is close to protected environmental sites) would be irreparably damaged.
Do please contact me if you need any further information or help.