Villagers angry at plans for a second quarry near Peterborough

Local walker Sharon Payne and her dog Roxy looking out over the proposed quarry in between Warmington and Fotheringhay. EMN-200217-165920009

The first quarry, called ‘Elton1’ opened in Warmington in 2004, but fell on economic hard times during the banking crisis and recession, and has never been properly restored as is required by planning law.

At a meeting of the Parish Council , residents expressed their dismay and anger at plans for a second quarry site when the first has been described as ‘an eyesore’, ‘a danger to health and safety’ and ‘a disgrace’.

More than 70 residents attended the meeting.

At the meeting, Douglas Symes and James Sutton from Ingrebourne Valley Ltd, applicants for the site, explained that if planning permission were granted then ‘Elton2’ would see 900,000 tonnes of sand and gravel extracted over the next 10 years up to July 31, 2030.

Cllr Chris Ellard, said: “This is a question of trust – how can we be expected to believe anything you say when you promised so much with Elton1, and have delivered so little? That site is a complete disgrace.”

Most people voiced concerns about the lack of consultation with the villagers by the applicants or Northamptonshire County Council, and raised worries about the risk of flooding in the area, as well as the lack of restoration of the site after quarrying.

Part of the planning application for Elton1 in 2002, had promised restoration of the landscape, including a bird sanctuary, footpaths, bridle-ways and even a hide for bird-watching built on the side of a planned lake – all at the expense of Ingrebourne Valley – none of which has been completed.

Mr Symes explained: “The company fell on hard times during the banking crisis in 2008-9. We extract minerals. We expected to extract a certain tonnage and then sell it, but nobody can predict the future. During a recession nobody builds houses, schools and hospitals, so they don’t need the minerals we extract – it’s a simple as that.

“We wanted to restore the site as promised, but excavations showed the ‘Oxford Clay’ needed to restore the ground-fill area wasn’t the right kind.”

A decision on the application is expected later in the year.