Newport views will be destroyed by quarry, claim

David Griffin, chairman of the Newport & District Civic Society, spoke on the final day of a six-day planning inquiry into plans for a new sand and gravel extraction business off Pave Lane.

More than 1,000 people signed a petition against the plans that , which was handed in on the first day of the inquiry.

Quarry operator Mick George Ltd wants to develop a new operation in Chetwynd Aston, near Newport, which will later be filled in with construction material.

But the planning application made in May 2016 was refused by Telford & Wrekin Council, which resulted in an appeal being submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by the developers.

Mr Griffin said: “I walk the bridleways affected by this planning application and the views from the ChildPit cottages towards Newport in the north east will be completely destroyed by the quarry processing area.

“To describe the landscape as insignificant is not a word I would use.

“Yes, it is not outstanding, but the vista has its own beauty when recently cultivated, or the fields are covered by flowering rape seed, or the swaying of barley or corn in the summer sun, or an impending storm.

“This is my first public inquiry and it has been an education for me.

“However, from what I have heard each day from those giving evidence, I do not believe that the case has been made for any significant increase in the immediate need for sand and gravel in the local market.”

Mr Griffin urged the inspector to take into account other plans in the area, including the new Innovation Park, near Audley Avenue, which is set to create 950 jobs.

“Any further highway analysis required by this inquiry must not be an isolated review based on just the quarry impact, it must look at all the proposed developments affecting the A41,” he said. “Prior to retirement my commute involved turning right out of Pave Lane onto the A41, the speed and volume of traffic at peak commute times meant a prolonged wait to exit the junction.”

Mick George Ltd said that planning permission should be granted unless any harm caused by the scheme ‘significantly and demonstrably’ outweighs the benefits.

They said that the harm caused by their plans would be ‘limited at best’.

A final decision will be made in the coming months.