Concrete firm defends Aldermaston extraction plan
Aldermaston Parish Council chairman Dave Shirt said it was felt that the village already had the highest percentage of HGVs to regular traffic in West Berkshire, and the move would wreak havoc on the roads.
A public meeting has been called for Tuesday, July 17 to discuss the meeting, and villager Helen Jones, from Wasing Lane has repeated her calls for everyone in Aldermaston and Aldermaston Wharf to attend.
She said she felt the application was in danger of sneaking through and that people would not realise the extent of what was happening until they were faced with clogged and dusty roads.
In a letter to West Berkshire’s head of planning, Gary Lugg, she said: “Until there is a better understanding of figures, the original statistics can only be a minimum estimate.
“We have no zebra/pelican crossing in the village, and I feel strongly that provision must be made to allow children and families cross the A340 safely in the event of an increase in traffic.
“There is evidence of brick erosion and one resident described how his home shakes and suffers vibrations as HGVs thunder past. I am also concerned what impact extra HGVs would cause to the road surface and potential risk to the village drainage systems.”
Lafarge Aggregates and Concrete UK are working with Marley Eternit and the Wasing Estate to mine 2.4 million tonnes of sand and gravel over the next 17 years.
The firms have argued that the closure of several quarries since a 2003 application to mine at the site was thrown out have left a paucity of sand and gravel that will last less than two years.
The works manager for Marley Eternit, Brian Butcher, said: “This proposed development is absolutely vital to the future of the Marley Eternit site, which has been located at Beenham since 1953. Our raw materials – which are currently supplied from the Midgham Quarry – will run out within the next 18 months.
“The security of supply offered by this site would ensure continued direct employment for some 75 people and indirect employment opportunities for nearly the same number again.
“An approval would be good for the company as well as the local economy.”
The regional planning and estates manager for Lafarge, Mike Pendock, added: “The feedback from the public consultation exhibition was very helpful in directing some of our further investigations. We have now evaluated alternative access routes, updated the traffic report and carried out further hydrological research.”
The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 17 at 8pm in Aldermaston Parish Hall.