Have a say as county looks again at future minerals extraction

Consultation starts next week as Nottinghamshire prepares a new plan for future minerals extraction.

The county council wants to hear people’s views as it begins to look again at how it can meet future demand for sand and gravel.

The need for a new plan comes after the previous one that included potential quarry sites at Coddington, Averham Flash and Shelford was scrapped.

The rethink came after public opposition to the sites.

Mr Kevin Rostance, vice-chairman of the county’s communities and place committee, said: “The MLP (Minerals Local Plan) is an important document that will have implications for the entire county for the next 20 years, so it is vital that local people have their say and, together, we get it right.

“That is why we took the decision in May to review the former draft plan in light of the latest evidence that demonstrates that too many sand and gravel quarry sites were being allocated for the likely demand.

“It is essential we strike the right balance.

“Responses to the consultation will play an important role in informing and influencing the development of the draft MLP.

“Further public consultation will be carried out on the draft plan next year before it is ultimately submitted to the Secretary of State for an independent examination.”

The committee agreed on Thursday to press ahead with the first stage of a new plan — the Issues and Options consultation.

The consultation document and background information will be available on the county council’s website from Monday at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/minerals

A reference copy will also be available at main libraries in the county.

The consultation will run for eight weeks until January 14.

Residents, businesses and organisations have the opportunity to have their say.

As the minerals planning authority, the county council is required to have a Minerals Local Plan, which sets out how much mineral is likely to be needed to meet demand; to allocate potential sites; and set the planning policies against which future minerals development will be assessed.

Nottinghamshire is rich in sand and gravel, gypsum and brick clay. There are other materials such as building stone, silica sand and oil.

The Issues and Options consultation is the first stage in preparing the new plan, which will be a blueprint for minerals extraction in the county up to 2036.

It will not identify new quarry sites. That will come later.

Issues that will be considered include:

• If the draft vision and strategic issues identified are appropriate over the plan period.
• If the expected demand for different mineral types over the plan period is considered appropriate, or if other factors should be taken into account when calculating future demand.
• If maintaining a geographical spread of quarries across Nottinghamshire is an important consideration when identifying future locations.
• If the proposed criteria against which future minerals development will be assessed, such as protecting residential and other local amenity, are suitable.