Membury asphalt plant rejection goes to appeal

An appeal against the decision to not allow an asphalt plant to be built near Membury Services is to be lodged.

West Berkshire Councillors voted it down - because of fears it might damage the Lambourn racehorse industry.

"If you’re not a millionaire horse trainer you won’t get any support from either the parish or councillor,"said Mark Drake, a partner in Putnham Property behind the scheme.

The 'perception being a reality' concept that the plant 'might' damage horse health and scare off the race trainers, thus threatening the £22m equine industry, won the day.

But the applicant is appealing, saying that 'perception' is not a reason to reject a planning application.

Objectors from Lambourn training yards said the lifeblood of the industry, which brings in £22m a year to the district, would be threatened even by a 'whiff' of poor air quality affecting the respiratory health and performance of top level racehorses.

"There is a concerning lack of support for construction workers in the valley by the parish council and local councillor, even though there are a large amount of construction workers in and around their area already and a large number of indirect employment would be available if the plant was to go ahead," said Mr Drake.

"If certain trainers were that concerned about dust particles effecting their horses then why run them on sand tracks and gallops regularly?

There is no evidence to suggest an asphalt plant could affect a horses respiratory system.

As a racehorse owner and someone with a love for horses in general I find the scenario hypocritical."

Council officers argued there was not any evidence to say asphalt production would be harmful to horses, claiming the M4 traffic would have a greater impact on air quality. It also admitted it had no air quality standards for animals - just for humans.

But the planning committee went against them and voted it down.