Chilton Quarry - another battle won

I am afraid that this post, reporting a famous victory for the people of Waldingfield at the County Council yesterday, is a little late due to the fact that very frustratingly I was unable to be at the meeting, and then had to travel up to London yesterday evening. Since working in the City I have always been very neurotic about failing to be first with the news, since in that working environment it could be the difference between receiving a bonus or one’s P45.

Anyway, better late than never.

As I am sure many of you know by now, Colin together with representatives of Chilton, Newton and Great Waldingfield Parish councils repeated their success at Babergh on Wednesday by persuading the Suffolk County Development Committee reject unanimously (9-0) Brett Aggregates’s application to extract gravel and do all sorts of other related and unpleasant things on land at Chilton (shown above).

Everyone worked really hard on the campaign to stop the quarry. Representatives from Parish Councils were particularly assiduous in showing that Brett’s figures didn’t stack up, both from the point of view of anticipated lorry movements and accident statistics for the A134 (also shown above).

So that is one battle over, but will we win the war? It is certain that Bretts will appeal. There is only limited scope to do much to influence the Inspector. I am looking into what possibilities there are, but I do know from experience of an appeal currently underway relating to development in Acton, that it is possible to send information and letters to him. Given that every local authority in the area has expressed opposition, I think that there are reasons to be optimistic. If the opinions of local people are ignored however a mockery will be made yet again of the Government’s commitment to community consultation.

In this connection I feel I must quote Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, writing the forward to ‘Participation Nation, Reconnecting Citizens to the Public Realm’ (published by Involve, 2007) I have reproduced the quote exactly as it is written. The glaring grammatical error and doubtful use of English are the Secretary of State’s not mine!!!!!

‘These are exciting times for those of us who are committed to community empowerment……Policy making and politics is about finding shared solutions to the shared problems our nation faces. And whether obesity, climate change or terrorism, there are no shortage of issues to be addressed in the modern world. Yet I believe we can also find solutions to these problems by tapping the vast reserve of passion, knowledge and wisdom that resides in the British population……Over the past 10 years ….we have devised wide ranging changes which bring decisions closer to citizens and the elected officials that represent them.’

Well, we shall see…..