Stop the Bengeo Quarry

TO:  Hertfordshire County Council

Ref- PL\0776\16  

We, the signatories of this petition, strongly object  to the proposed development  of an open quarry in the fields between Sacombe Road, Wadesmill Road (B158), and Chapmore End forrest and urge you not to degrade our health, environment and countryside by approving the planning application. 

The proposed phased extraction of sand and gravel, mobile dry screening plant, stockpile area, weighbridge, wheel cleaning facilities, ancillary site offices, construction of a new access onto Wadesmill Road with phased restoration to landscaped farmland at a lower level at Land at Ware Park, Wadesmill Road, Hertford is entirely unsuitable and should be rejected.

The closest residents will be an estimated 30m away from the proposed site boundary. Bengeo Primary school is approximately 400m from the proposed site boundary.

We, as signed signaturies, believe the proposed gravel, sand and mineral extractions will have a profound negative impact on the local community, environment and wildlife. We are concerned about the possible direct health effects of extraction works. We believe that the noise, dust and air pollution will be a nuisance, and almost certainly unavoidable. We strongly reject any suggestion that there has been any consideration for the impact that Lorry movements will have on our local roads and infrastructure. 

Having studied the plans we believe that the sites of gravel extraction is very close to the Wadesmill Rd borehole. We strongly believe that extracting 2.6million tonnes of sand and gravel so close to the Wadesmill borehole will have a negative impact onthe Aquifer and would urge HCC to carry our an independent environmental assessment and hydrogeology study. We do not believe that the proposed application submitted by RJD Limited and Gowling WLG Trust Corporation Limited meets the criteria of MLPR preferred area 2 as it proposes the creation of an entirely new quarry and disregards the relevant Access, Specific Considerations, boundary and buffer zone requirements as stated in the MLPR. 

We do not believe that a viable extraction process can take place and strongly object to the proposal.