striving to reduce the effects of quarrying.”
Nevertheless, the Government chose to introduce an aggregates levy in April 2002 with the aim of “prompting everybody to consider the cost of quarrying virgin aggregates”, Halfpenny says.
FORMED in 2000, the BRTMA is helping to do just that. “Members are committed to developing the use of environmentally friendly products,” Halfpenny states, “and will continue to explore the options of supply provided by sustainable quarrying in response to the changing requirements of sportsturf architects, constructors and agronomists.” The tonnage of quarried materials that finds its way into the sportsturf industry annually, however, is a minute proportion (600,000te of finished product) of the 200mte used annually by industry as a whole. It may seem unfair therefore to deal too harshly with sports facilities and venues that are part and parcel of what is a young market that is still largely getting to grips with its operational impact on the environment. The matter rests with others ultimately though, because the driver for change is arguably local
authorities, who are taking a tougher line on requiring end users to meet EU or other recycling targets.
Planning permission for new developments and facilities might be refused for example, unless applicants demonstrate their intention for sustainability and commitment to a green future. So how does the BRTMA impact on John Halfpenny’s “virtuous circle”? BRTMA members (11 at
present) supply blended rootzones and top dressings to a consistent and repeatable standard, the main constituent being sand.
“Sportsturf applications comprise essentially sand in various grades and free-draining gravels,” Halfpenny explains. “It is when sand is mixed with organic constituents such as soil, peat or green compost, that it becomes a rootzone.” The mineral quantities available for quarrying will serve to ease any fears among end users over rising prices brought on by dwindling reserves, Halfpenny says reassuringly. “Prices to the sportsturf market are affected like any other market economy. There is no suggestion that reserves are shrinking within the current planning permission
“BRTMA members are committed to environmentally friendly products”
Producers of specialist graded silica sand, gravel and blended products for:
• Natural turf pitches and greens
• Bunkers
Also available: • Top dressing sand • Rootzone
• Synthetic pitches and courts
• Sports surfaces
• Coloured Sand - including terracotta and green
Garside Sands, Eastern Way, Heath and Reach, Leighton Buzzard, Beds LU7 9LF
Tel: 01525 237911 Fax: 01525 237991 Email:
garside.sands@
aggregate.com An AGGREGATE INDUSTRIES business 17
www.pitchcare.com/re 18
www.pitchcare.com/re 35
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99