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Aldermaston gravel extraction applicants face the music





Representatives of applicants Lafarge Aggregates and management at Wasing Estate set out their stall at a public meeting in the village hall.
Should their application to enlarge their operation at Lower Farm, Wasing Lane be successful, the bridge across the River Enborne would have to be strengthened to cope with the number of HGVs crossing it each day.
Against the applicants were local residents, many of whom contributed to the 100 letters of objection to the controversial proposals which have been registered.
The new chief executive at Wasing estate, John Pattison, conceded: “This area is unique, so I understand the emotion at the meeting tonight.”
He began by trying to set the record straight, stating: “Flyers have been sent round with untruths in them - for example, that there will be 500 vehicle movements per day.”
He went on to remind the meeting that Wasing Estates, an organisation which was, he said, “cash poor but asset rich,” contributed much to the local community and added: “We’re sad there are objections to what we want to do. We feel it’s our right to re-invest in the estate - but it’s your right to object. We get that it’s unpopular but we want to deliver and manage it as best we can.”
Responding to questions from residents, Doug Symes, who prepared the application on behalf of Lafarge Aggregates, said: “You ask: ‘Why now? Why here? New sites have to be found. Minerals are finite. The Kennet Valley has long been identified as an area to search for mineral extraction so it will happen, either now or in the future.”
Challenged about the number of expected lorry movements per day, Mr Pattison said: “On average it will be 60 movements out of Beenham and 60 movements back. It won’t all go through the village.”
However, one resident calculated that such movements of HGV represented 4,400 daily movements of a family car and said: “That’s the equivalent of 4,400 family cars going past our properties every day for the next 20 years.”
Parish council chairman Dave Shirt said the application would double the current number of vehicle movements associated with gravel extraction on the A340.
Mr Symes replied: “Sadly, some of the primary road network goes through settlements and I understand your concerns.”
After the meeting, Mr Shirt said he did not believe that the applicants had convinced residents of the application’s merit and added: “I didn’t expect that it would, frankly.”
The council is currently discussing proposals for conditions it could ask to be imposed should the application be successful.
The Wasing Estate, with Lafarge Aggregates and Concrete UK and Marley Eternit, submitted its application for the 70 hectare site in May.
Aldermaston Parish Council objects on the grounds of: the impact of the HGV traffic, particularly on the lifting bridge at the Wharf; the adverse visual and noise impact; the cumulative impact of previous gravel operations in the parish; unproven demand and possible flooding problems.
The Wasing Estate was purchased in 1759 by the London nautical publisher John Mount. The current owner is film maker Josh Dugdale, and it has been in his family for more than 250 years.
The fate of the application will be decided at a meeting of West Berkshire Council’s planning committee at a date to be fixed.



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