A new petition has been set up to allow residents to make their voices heard. This petition can be signed up until the 31st December and can be found here.
In addition a timetable for the quarry appeal is shown below:
Action | Timetable |
---|---|
Start date | 26/09/2017 |
Submission of questionnaire | 10/10/2017 |
Deadline for comments from interested parties | 07/11/2017 |
Submission of statement of case (Local Planning Authority) | 07/11/2017 |
Submission of statement of case (Stop Bengeo Quarry) | 21/11/2017 |
Submission of statement of common ground | 03/04/2018 |
Submission of proofs of evidence | 03/04/2018 |
Witness names and anticipated duration for:
Copy of LPA event notification letter |
10/04/2018 |
Inquiry (time, date and venue) | 10am on 01/05/2018Venue TBC |
Estimated number of sitting days | 4 |
Decision issued on or before (Inspector decided cases) | TBA1 |
1The target date for issue of the decision will be confirmed within 4 working days of the close of the inquiry.
What next:
The new quarry application is currently being considered by the HCC Planning Officer, and relevant specialists in HCC (Landscape, Highways, etc). We are expecting the case to be considered by HCC Development Control Committee on 28th March 2018 at 10am at County Hall (as before in March). We really hope that you can join us, as it will be important to demonstrate to new members of the deciding Committee, the strength of local opposition against this new plan. The HCC Planning Officer’s recommendation to the Committee will only be announced 2-3 weeks before their meeting (and we can’t assume it will be recommended for refusal again).
The appeal against HCC’s decision to refuse the previous application is currently being considered by the Planning Inspectorate. We are working with our legal and expert representatives on our Statement of Case, as we managed to secure rule 6 status, which means SBQ effectively becomes a third party in the appeal. We believe it is important to do so, as the issue of water supply pollution remains a huge concern. The appeal public hearing is scheduled for 1st – 4th May 2018 at County Hall and again – we invite all those who can to join us, especially on the first day, so we can show in our numbers how much this issue matters to the local community.
HCC recommends that the draft Minerals Local Plan should no longer include Bengeo Field and Rickneys as a preferred area in the future. We are very pleased with this recommendation and HCC’s recognition of the key issues identified by our campaign. If approved, this will be of immense importance for stopping the development of quarries in this area for at least 15 years. We would like to urge you to respond to the MLP consultation, which is about to open for residents to have their say.
Keep visiting Bengeo Field. We believe that the Bengeo Field is now visited even more than before by cyclists, families, joggers, ramblers… Currently we are particularly interested to hear from any groups (formal or informal) who use/visit Bengeo Field. There may be a survey coming soon to gather unquestionable evidence that residents of Bengeo and beyond see Bengeo Field amenity as part of their life and do not wish to change the walk along the footpath (which is now registered as Asset of Community Value) for a path alongside a deep quarry.
How you can help:
- Please sign the petition https://cmis.hertfordshire.gov.uk/hertfordshire/Petitions/tabid/140/ID/183/Hertford-is-worth-more-than-gravel-petition-against-a-NEW-quarry-proposal-in-Bengeo-Field.aspx
- Display the SBQ logo – available from Secret Garden Florist at the Avenue
- Follow our updates on www.stopbengeoquarry.org.uk or social media
- Contact us with any ideas and suggestions on info@stopbengeoquarry.org.uk
- Join us on 25 January and 1-4 May in County Hall to show the decision-makers that we really mean to stop this quarry.