Residents’ dismay over quarry plans KCC faces decisions over sand extraction proposals in Lenham
QUESTIONS have been raised about just how productive the Chapel Farm site would be, in relation to the potential upset for local families over 25 years. The 58.7-hectare reserve, which borders Lenham Heath Road and part of Bull Hill, could produce an estimated fourmillion tonnes of sand and gravel. That would be a yield of just 68,000 tonnes per hectare, say residents in their submis- sion to KCC, which is consult- ing on its minerals policy. A resident argued: “Looking
at other sites in this consulta- tion the average is a little over 120,000 tonnes with some sites offering as much as 300,000 tonnes per hectare.” Cllr Jenny Whittle said: “This development could cause sig- nificant inconvenience and stress to residents and harm to the environment and tourism economy over a long period.” She said noise from traffic
and machinery would add to noise from the M20 and the High Speed One rail line, and that dust could harm health, particularly of children and old people. Cllr Whittle said one resident
wrote to her, saying “apart from the loss of agricultural lands,
PROPOSALS to quarry sand from two sites in Lenham are being strongly opposed by vil- lagers. Both locations – at Chapel Farm and Boltons Field – are surrounded by homes. Local county councillor Jenny Whittle has sent written objections to KCC, which is reviewing its minerals policy. She says that if either of the schemes goes ahead it is “likely to have a highly detrimental impact on [residents’] quality of life and the value of their properties, as well as create damage to the environment, historical landscape and local economy”. Peter Erlam reports.
Rare species of wildlife and ancient hedging could disap- pear if plans for sourcing sand and gravel from the Chapel Farm site go ahead
ruined ancient hedges, dis- turbed water courses, heavy ve- hicles on roads never built to accommodate them and upset wildlife – some of it rare species – the plan appears to have no consideration for the rural fam- ilies living nearby”. Also affected, said Cllr Whit-
tle, would be the nearby Bull Heath nature reserve and the four footpaths of the Heaths Countryside Corridor where ramblers enjoy the scenic area linking Lenham Heath and Charing Heath.
Landowner clarifies ‘misconceptions’ ‘Lay-off’ buffer zones of 50-
FARMER Andy Barr wants to dispel what he called miscon- ceptions about the scheme. He says: There is nothing new
in proposing to extract sand at Chapel Farm – it was ear- marked in KCC’s minerals plan as long ago as 1993 The current exercise is not
about him seeking planning permission, it is part of KCC’s review of options Only 10%of the site would
be dug at any one time, and each phase would be restored as the next one is dug. And Mr Barr insists there would be:
150m between the workings and property boundaries, to mitigate noise Earth bunds up to 5m plus
tree planting to obscure views of the site Access for the sand com-
pany, Brett, via the farm to the A20, to keep trucks off back roads No extra A20 traffic as ex- traction would only start after operations at the Shepherd’s Farm sandpit end No traffic using Lenham
Heath Road as now Environmental schemes and public access maintained.
12 East
Have you got news for us? Phone our News Desk on 01622 734735
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