Agenda item

Report by the Deputy Director for Environment & Economy (Strategy & Infrastructure Planning) (PN7)

The proposal is to allow the brown ironstone quarry extension containing approximately 700,000 tonnes of mineral over a 21 year period. In exchange revocation of existing consented mineral in area labelled ‘Clay Bank’. Also wish to export clay extracted from the extension (approx. 300,000m³), construct both temporary and permanent landforms, and retain an existing overburden store to the south of the existing quarry. As well as relocate the consented stone saw shed, construct a new four storey office building, construct a new multi-purpose agricultural building and construct a new shooting store.

It is RECOMMENDED that subject to a legal agreement to secure that the mineral permitted under the “clay bank” is not further worked and a 20 years long term management plan that planning permission for application MW.0078/15 be approved subject to conditions to be determined by the Deputy Director for Environment & Economy (Strategy and Infrastructure Planning) including those set out in Annex 3 to this report.

The Committee considered a report PN7 setting out a proposal to extend working to the west of the existing ironstone quarry over a 21 year period but excluding the extraction of part of the consented phase 3 in the existing quarry including part of the clay bank. The development also proposed retention of an area of overburden store outside the consented existing planning permission to the south of the quarry which was currently unauthorised; export of extracted clay (approx. 300,000m³), construction of both temporary and permanent landforms, relocation of the consented stone saw shed and construction of new buildings including a four storey office building, multi-purpose agricultural building and new shooting store.

Presenting the report Mr Case drew the Committee’s attention to additional information and revised plan as set out in the tabled addenda.

He responded to questions from:

Councillor Johnston – some clay was currently used on site as restoration material.

Councillor Cherry – there had been 3 consultations which had resulted in a series of very comprehensive conditions to cover the amount of overburden to be removed in order to get to the ironstone.

Councillor Heathcoat – he confirmed that younger trees would be planted due to a high failure rate in mature trees and so screening would not be immediate. With regard to vehicle movements there would be an average of 8 movements per day in connection with the extraction of stone and 22 per day (110 per week) in connection with the export of clay although there would be no exportation of that material between August and October.

Mr Periam explained that the applicant was giving up some of the ironstone reserves under woodland which would then be preserved. However, there was no guarantee that an application to work that material would not be submitted in the future but added that there were considerable reserves of ironstone elsewhere on the site.

Responding to Councillor Johnston Tamsin Atley confirmed that an area was to be segregated for ‘no noisy working’ affording some protection for woodpeckers.

Councillor Webber having visited the site considered it was well sited and hidden but expressed some concern that past unauthorised work was being sanctioned.

Mr Periam confirmed that if the Committee were minded to refuse the application then enforcement proceedings would be instigated with regard to past unauthorised work.

Nicholas Johnston the applicant addressed the Committee and thanked members for visiting the site which he explained was the only block ironstone quarry in the country. He had hoped to get the application considered earlier and that that delay had given rise to the work carried out for which he apologised. It was a large but well organised site and the proposed buildings were required to accommodate everyone on one site.  The site had been operating for 20 years with a lot of local support and benefits to the local economy. He was not aware of any historical objections and bearing in mind its good record asked the Committee to support the application.

He then responded to questions from:

Councillor Cherry – there were between 40 and 50 full time employees and sub-contractors on the Great Tew estate with others employed in ancillary industry outside the estate.

Councillor Phillips – the implications of not moving the trees would mean that the quarry would stop working. He regretted the loss of trees but pointed out  that the estate carried out a lot of planting to mitigate against losses.

Councillor Fulljames – it would be impossible to stop everyone using minor roads but he could not see any reason why anyone would want or need to use any roads other than main A roads.

RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Johnston seconded by Councillor Cherry and carried unanimously) that subject to a legal agreement to secure that the mineral permitted under the “clay bank” is not further worked and a 20 years long term management plan that planning permission for application MW.0078/15 be approved subject to conditions to be determined by the Deputy Director for Environment & Economy (Strategy and Infrastructure Planning) including those set out in Annex 3 to the report PN7 subject to amending “an” in Condition xxiv to read “in”.