Today at Stourport Manor, the Planning Inspectorate held a further Inquiry into the Planning Appeal for the Lea Castle Farm Quarry. Mark attended the Inquiry and addressed the Panel. His speach is below for reference:
Good afternoon I am Mark Garnier and have been the Member of Parliament since 2010.
So, there is a terrible sense of déja vu coming back to us all here. 18months ago I was here opposed to the planned Lea Castle Farm Quarry, as I am now. I have been supporting the excellent campaign group against these outrageous plans, and we are only here again today due to a technicality, a procedural loophole.
One that has allowed the application to resurface despite the clear and decisive refusal already made by Worcestershire County Council. A decision that has been already backed-up once by reasoned judgement by a planning inspector.
Democratically-elected Councillors, myself as the local MP, local community and a planning inspector are all in agreement, the proposed quarry is simply a bonkers idea.
The quarry would threaten our environment, our communities, and the health of our children. So it is more vital than ever that the Planning Inspectorate upholds the decision to reject it for a second time.
I can assure the Inspectorate, over the past 18 months, the local community’s strength of feeling against the quarry has only intensified, and rightly so.
I am here to ensure that the voices of my constituents are continued to be heard. I hope you will protect the democratic decision taken by our councillors, and to prevent this harmful development from going forward. This area, and the quality of life we enjoy, must be preserved.
The Location and Community Impact
Let’s start by acknowledging the location.
Lea Castle Farm is surrounded by several communities, each with its unique history and character: Wolverley to the west, Cookley to the north, and Sion Hill, a suburb of Kidderminster, to the south.
Far from isolated, these communities have sizeable populations.
Cookley has over 2,000 residents, Wolverley nearly 1,800, and Sion Hill around 750. These numbers don’t account for amenities, visitors, or families with children, nor the growing need for safe spaces where people can live, work, and thrive.
This quarry proposal not only disrupts the peace of these communities but also puts at risk the very health and safety of our residents. Not only this, but the Wyre Forest Local Plan, a democratically approved vision, has set out plans for 1,400 homes at the Lea Castle Village. A new community of 2,500 residents will only thrive if their quality of life is safeguarded, which is why the proposed quarry is so concerning.
The quarry, if approved, would directly undermine the council’s vision for Lea Castle Village.
It poses a serious risk to the health, safety, and well-being of future residents, creating dust, noise, and environmental disruption right at their doorstep.
Wyre Forest District Council has been steadfastly opposed to this quarry every step of the way because it fundamentally contradicts the values and priorities in their approved local plan.
Environmental Impact and Irreparable Damage
The environmental consequences of the proposed quarry are stark.
If approved, the quarry would involve extracting 3 million tonnes of minerals over a span of nine years, leaving behind a flat, barren crater devoid of any natural habitat.
Wildlife would be driven away, vegetation would be decimated, and noise and air pollution would disrupt the delicate balance of our ecosystem.
This isn’t just about shifting the landscape – it’s about potentially irreversible environmental damage. The air quality impact alone is deeply concerning. Dust and particulate matter from quarry operations pose a serious risk, especially with strong winds that would carry these particles into nearby residential areas.
Even one lapse in emission standards could spell trouble, particularly for those with respiratory issues.
It’s unacceptable to gamble with the health of nearby residents – thousands of people, including children and elderly, would be directly impacted by pollution from the quarry.
Proximity to Schools – A Risk Too Great to Ignore
The proposed quarry is within close proximity to four schools.
Wolverley Church of England Secondary School is less than a mile away, while Cookley Sebright Primary School is just over half a mile from the site’s centre. St. Oswald’s Primary and Heathfield Knoll school nursery also lie uncomfortably close to this area. Even Wolverley Sebright Primary, situated just over a mile away, could be impacted given the expansive reach of the site’s dust and debris.
Placing a quarry in such close vicinity to schools is reckless.
The Asthma UK Centre has found that air pollution exacerbates asthma and increases the risk of long-term respiratory and heart issues. A study has also found that asthma costs the NHS £1.1billion per year.
Why would we willingly expose children to such conditions?
The risks to our children’s health and well-being are far too high to allow this project to proceed.
Impact on Recreation and Community Life
Our footpaths, bridleways, and green spaces are integral to the community’s lifestyle. Residents use these areas for walking, cycling, and enjoying nature. The proposed quarry would turn this vibrant landscape into an industrial zone, disrupting these paths and diminishing our constituency’s natural beauty.
Lessons from Other Quarry Decisions
Previous planning inspector decisions illustrate a clear precedent for caution with such developments.
At Benego Quarry in Hertford, a similar appeal was dismissed due to concerns about dust and disruption. Why should we consider a different outcome here? This decision should guide us – the environmental and health impacts are simply too great.
A Call for Sustainable Quarrying Practices
I’ve always supported the idea of responsible quarrying – one that contributes to the construction sector without compromising communities. However, quarrying has its place, and it is not within our neighbourhoods and close to schools.
Other countries, like Canada, have a minimum setback of 600 metres between quarries and residential areas. Here, the proposed quarry sits dangerously close to residential properties and schools – and yet, our outdated planning laws offer no such buffer.
In Parliament, I am working to rectify this. In the last Parliament I launched an All-Party Parliamentary Group on Clean Quarrying and held debates in Westminster Hall.
In this new Parliament, I hope to keep pushing for more sensible and enforceable guidelines. I hope that we can establish clear rules on quarry proximity and stricter particulate distribution standards to protect communities across the UK from projects like these.
The community action that is being undertaken here in Lea Castle should not have to be repeated elsewhere. These applications should simply not even get as far as being heard.
The Urgent Need for Local Action
Now more than ever, we need to reject this application and uphold Worcestershire County Council’s original decision. The proposed quarry would bring noise and air pollution, damage to local infrastructure, and economic losses for surrounding areas.
Beyond this, it risks damaging the natural beauty of the area. That is without going into the issues of damage to the greenbelt which others will I’m sure go into more detail on.
Throughout this process, I have supported our community’s campaign to oppose the quarry. I have raised these issues at every possible stage. I’ve written many letters to Government Ministers highlighting how inappropriate this development is. The Lea Castle Quarry is a threat to the quality of life of the people living in Cookley, Wolverley and Sion Hill.
Conclusion: A Call to Protect Our Community
This quarry, if allowed, would irrevocably alter the landscape and risk to compromise the health of our residents.
It poses a significant threat to our environment, our community, and our future.
This community has been loud and clear and unanimous in its opposition.
The County Council recognised this, reflected it in their decision.
The Planning Inspectorate upheld that decision.
So let’s not allow a developer a long wrangled legal attempt to make it three times lucky. I urge all involved not to overturn a well-reasoned, democratically supported decision by Worcestershire County Council.
I urge the Planning Inspector to think when making this final decision of the impact any quarry in Lea Castle would have on the environment and quality of life of our residents.
Please dismiss this appeal and reject this disastrous application.
