By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
A Nottinghamshire quarry will be allowed to extract an extra 550,000 tonnes of sand and gravel despite concerns about wildlife and traffic.
Cromwell Quarry, off the A1 in Cromwell, near Newark, will be extended to the south into land at Ness Farm so further extraction can begin.
The work is expected to take about two years to complete, with slightly less than 300,000 tonnes of sand and gravel to be extracted per year.
The land, which is about 7km north of Newark, has been used as a quarry since planning permission was granted in 2009 for mineral extraction.
It briefly closed “due to a decline in market conditions” before reopening in 2016 when work commenced.
Many parts of the land have been exhausted of minerals and restoration work is already under way to turn used land into wetland habitat.
However, applicant Cemex UK Operations Ltd asked Nottinghamshire County Council for a two-year extension to allow new works to begin.
The plans, which were unanimously approved by the authority’s planning and rights of way committee on Tuesday (June 6), will use about 33 acres of land over the two-year extraction.
The land would then also be restored into a wetland habitat, including water, wet woodland, shallow ponds and grassland verges once extraction is complete.
However, the meeting heard concerns were raised in an objection by the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust relating to the planned extension.
This was related to the restoration scheme, concerns about existing species using the site, the “adequacy of ecological surveys” and concerns over “adverse ecological impacts”.
Further concerns were raised in an objection by Cromwell Parish Council.
David Swift, chairman of the parish council, said the plans were discussed at the authority’s meeting in October.
On the council’s objections, he said there is “no need” for the extra sand and gravel due to a “lower level” of local and national economic activity.
The council also raised concerns about the impact on a nearby footpath and about HGVs using roads in the village.
He said: “The existing quarry extension … has caused, and is continuing to cause, damage to [a] footpath which is at times impassible to pedestrians.
“Water, mud and the inevitable damage caused by heavy vehicles crossing a footpath are the main problems.
“However well it is repaired, parishioners are being inconvenienced now and wildlife has fled.
“Although HGVs were originally well-behaved and kept to the agreed access route … there has been an increase in the incidence of some quarry traffic ignoring [this] and using the southern entrance, passing directly through the village in order to reach the quarry.
“Further, these lorries are reported anecdotally to be exceeding the village speed limit of 30mph.”
But in the meeting, a council officer said “no evidence” was provided by the parish council about its concerns over footpaths and HGV use.
Adressing the objections of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, Emma Pearman, a spokesperson for the applicant, said: “We have taken into account comments made by the trust in relation to the application.
“We have adjusted the restoration plan accordingly and there will be … 147 per cent biodiversity net gain overall.
“Semex has worked with the planning authority to make changes to the application where necessary.
“[We] appreciate the support of the county council to allow us to continue to supply essential sand and gravel from this location.”
No other objections were raised during the consultation, and councillors unanimously approved the scheme.
In the meeting, Mike Hankin, a council planning officer, said: “The proposed extension would not result in an over-provision of sand and gravel in Nottinghamshire and would not prejudice [other] sites.
“Maintaining a choice of operational sites will foster a competitive local economy.
“Support for the expansion is also provided in terms of its contribution to maintaining existing jobs at the quarry and employment in the local economy.”
