Newburgh Parish Council response to Planning Application Number 08/09/1141

Newburgh Parish Council supports local industry, providing it does not adversely affect the quality of life for our inhabitants.  We also recognise the need to ‘make prudent use or reuse of existing resources’ (Para 6.11 of the Environmental Considerations submitted in the application).

We support the function of Round O Quarry in recycling material and recognise the effective management of the site itself.

However, we have a significant and major concern about this application for an extension to the Aggregate Recycling Facility, as it stands.  There is no reference to the routing of HGVs.  There is therefore clear potential for a worsening and detrimental effect on the environment of Newburgh. We therefore object to the application.

There are provisos in three clauses of the application which we believe will not be met by the application in its present form:

1. Clause 6.7 (page 13) states that the proposed development ‘would have no detrimental impacts on the site itself or the surrounding environment.’   

1. Clause 6.8 (page 13) states that ‘a high level of protection should be given to the most valued townscapes’ when deciding on planning permissions.

1. In clause 6.51 Policy 2 of the Local Plan Policy  (page 21) says that permission will be granted ‘only if ... material impacts, by reason of traffic, ...... can be eliminated or reduced to acceptable levels’.

These provisos will not be met by large volumes of traffic passing through the village.  There will be detrimental impact from noise, pollution, building vibration and pedestrian danger. The ‘quality, character and amenity value’ of the townscape will not be protected as befits a village with a conservation area designation. Material impacts will not be ‘eliminated or reduced to acceptable levels.’

The provisos would be satisfied by all HGVs entering and exiting the site from the southwest ie from the M58 direction. There is some precedent in that the applicants were prepared three years ago to submit an application that applied restrictions on traffic routing in relation to the site.  This is reflected in the current permission. 

We request therefore that any new permission should incorporate restrictions requiring that all HGVs enter and exit the site from the southwest.

We further request that this application be considered simultaneously with the proposed application for extension of other quarry activities referred to in this application (Clause 3.5 Page 6 ). This would allow for a comprehensive assessment of future quarry operations.