Waste firm explains planning application

Grundon says plans to expand its soft sand operations at Chieveley is to prepare for an upturn in the market

GRUNDON has said its decision to expand its sand and gravel extraction operation in Chieveley is to prepare for an upturn in the market.

The firm has submitted a planning application to West Berkshire Council to extend its existing soft sand operations at Old Kiln Quarry, Chieveley, to the north and south of the existing access road near Junction 13 of the M4.

Although the application area is 38 hectares, sand would only be extracted from 14.6 hectares, representing approximately 38 per cent of the application area.

The extension would involve extracting approximately 70,000 tonnes a year over 10 to 11 years.

Grundon Estates Director Bob Nicholson said: “In the minerals industry it is important to plan ahead to ensure a continuous supply of essential building materials into the local market. We need to plan how to have mineral reserves in place for when the economy picks up, which is why we are putting this application in now.”

Restoration of the site has been a sore point for those opposing the firms plan to build a waste incinerator at their current location in Old Kiln Quarry.

West Berkshire Council planning officers responded to a scoping request document, drawn up by solicitors for the firm to seek formal response from the council over environment regulations, by pointing out that restoration to the terms of the orignal sand extaction application had not been carried out.