On a rainy August evening around 140 people packed into Sudbury Town Hall to protest against the renewed application by Brett Aggregates to create a quarry with other related activities on land between Chilton and Great Waldingfield.
To remind readers, this is a second application by the company. Their first was thrown out by the County Development Committee last year, and that application is now subject to an appeal. It is important that this second application is also rejected so that the Public Inquiry that has been promised to discuss the first can go ahead, and the matter can be given a full airing.
Tim Yeo, the Member of Parliament for South Suffolk, came all the way from London to express his support for the campaign of opposition. He made the point that he rarely gets involved in planning matters, in general believing that they should be left to local people and local authorities, but in this case he believes that it is very important to oppose the plans.
This application differs from the last only to the extent that Bretts has tried to meet objections related to traffic safety by including a roundabout on the A134 in their plans. In my view this is simply a fig-leaf to conceal an inappropriate application which would result in a scheme that would be very detrimental for people well beyond Waldingfield Ward.
It is important that everyone, and everyone you know, writes to the County Council in order to object to these plans. This can be achieved electronically by going to the Suffolk County Council website: (http://www.suffolk.gov.uk), (click on Planning and Building and then scroll down the page for the appropriate link). Alternatively, a letter can be sent to the Council. I often think that ‘snail mail’ can be more effective, but perhaps I am old fashioned.
It is important to give good reasons for your objection. The last plan was rejected on the grounds of road safety and environmental factors. It would be a good idea to comment on these matters when you write.
Further information can be obtained from me, from Colin Spence, or from the campaign co-ordinator, Peter Clifford, Chairman of Chilton Parish Council, who chaired last night’s meeting very gracefully.
