Events – Stop Bengeo Quarry

Community Celebration & Discovery Walk

15 June 201915 June 2019 By Admin Comment Closed

Please join us for an afternoon of fun, food and entertainment for family and friends at the White Lion in Bengeo, Hertford on Saturday 15th June 2019 from 1-5pm. We are delighted to celebrate our amazing community's achievement of preserving Bengeo Field. The Secretary of State's recent decision to uphold the refusal of planning permission for a quarry in close proximity to Bengeo School and homes is a milestone victory that is worthy of celebration for the whole community. We hope to see you there! You're also invited to join us for a fun treasure trail starting at Sacombe Road entrance to Bengeo Field (between the Wick and Buckwells Field) between 10-11am on Saturday 30th June. Participants will receive a map with the route options and challenge instructions for the Discovery Walk. Plenty of fun guaranteed for all ages! Please bring a pencil/pen, your mobile/a camera, and a drink. You can also bring a ribbon/decoration for the lonely oak tree. All...

Public Enquiry Re-opens Next Week

17 October 2018 By Admin Comment Closed

The Public Enquiry in to the County Council's refiusal of planning permission for a quarry in Bengeo re-open next Tuesday (23rd October) at County Hall for three days. Come and join us any time you can please, wearing red if you want to. The schedule for remaining days of the enquiry are: Tuesday 23rd October: Health witnesses and evidence in chief from Mr Symes representing the appellants Wednesday 24th October: Mr Symes' evidence cross examination and conditions for Section 106 Thursday 25th October: Closing submissions You can come any time during the day. We need the Inspector and the appellant know that the residents of Hertford will not stop campaigning to Stop Bengeo Quarry....

Runners Raise Funds

7 October 20187 October 2018 By Admin Comment Closed

Runners, walkers and spectators braved the early morning chill and heavy rain on Sunday to take part in the Bengeo Field Fun Run. The event was organised by Stop Bengeo Quarry (SBQ) campaigners to demonstrate the community's unwavering determination and support for Hertfordshire County Council's (HCC) decision to refuse planning permission for an urban quarry within Hertford Town Council's boundary. The Public Inquiry, to consider the appeal by the applicant, against HCC Development Control Committee's unanimous decision on 22nd March 2017, to refuse planning permission for a quarry at Bengeo, was adjourned earlier this year in controversial circumstances. The Planning Inspector adjourned the Public Inquiry on 18th May to enable campaigners time to obtain expert health advice. During the already extended Inquiry in May, members of the public questioned the applicant's health expert about their claim that the proposed quarry would have no health impact on children attending Bengeo Primary School, or on vulnerable members of the public living in nearby...

Fun Run Set For September

23 July 20187 October 2018 By Admin Comment Closed

Our fundraising Fun Run has now been rescheduled for Sunday 23rd September at 10am. As before, adults and children can run one of three courses - a 1 kilometre run from the mobile mast to the Lonely Oak and back, a 2 kilometre run to the edge of St.John's Wood and back, or a 4 kilometre run from the mast through St.John's Wood, around Rickneys and then back again. Entry is £5 for adults with a child free, or £1 for a child. To apply to take part go to the Fun Run Registration Form. Registration Form ...

Fundraising at The Bengeo Club

19 April 201821 April 2018 By Admin Comment Closed

Bengeo residents flooded into The Bengeo Club on Sunday 15th April in support of the campaign to stop the Bengeo quarry. The fundraising effort raised £450 with the sale of teas/coffees, a raffle and homemade cakes. Children painted rocks, designed posters, and penned poems to express their concern for their environment and to protect their local school. In particular - they mention the dust pollution, the water supply and the wildlife around the much loved Lonely Oak in the centre of the Bengeo Field. More than 250 people visited Bengeo Club for the event, including Cllr Andrew Stevenson, Cllr Peter Ruffles, Cllr Sue Dunkley, and Cllr Linda Radford. Aska Pickering, the Chairperson of Stop Bengeo Quarry campaign said: "The support of the Hertford community is truly amazing. We have been campaigning for over two years now but the support to stop the quarry just on the border of Hertford grows stronger. The event provided the campaigning residents a chance to discuss the latest...

Bengeo Quarry Continues to Threaten Hertford’s Landscape and Water

20 September 201719 October 2017 By Admin Comment Closed

Supporters of the Stop Bengeo Quarry campaign (SBQ) came together for a Summer Walk across Bengeo Field, as the fight to preserve the local landscape continues. On Sunday 10th September Stop Bengeo Quarry hosted the event, which consisted of a walk to the Woodman pub in Chapmore End, where a day of live music and a barbecue took place for the community event. More than 120 people attended during the day, to back the fight to Stop Bengeo Quarry, which is getting ready for its next round of campaigning to gain further support. Adults, children and dogs gathered at the Old Oak Tree on the path at Bengeo Field to begin a day in aid of the green space between Wadesmill and Sacombe Road. Supporters were invited to wear red for Stop Bengeo Quarry or green to celebrate our countryside, with prizes for the best outfits. It was a fun day out for all the family, with activities for children along...

Summer Walk To The Woodman

24 August 201720 September 2017 By Admin Comment Closed

Join us at the Old Oak Tree on the footpath at Bengeo Field alongside Wadesmill Road (B158) and Sacombe Road at 11 am. We will walk together to the Woodman Pub in Chapmore End arriving by midday. If walking is not your thing – meet us at the Woodman pub. There will be live music and BBQ at the Woodman between 12 – 4pm. There will be also some fun activities for children and adults along the walk and in the pub. Wear RED for Stop Bengeo Quarry Campaign and GREEN for our countryside (there will be a reward for best outfits). Live music in the Woodman Simon Cragg Garden Room Beth Hedges Chloe Turner Baron Goodlove The Greyhound Factory Donations are welcome from walkers but are in no way compulsory. There will be Barbeque. After the successful rejection of the previous proposal of the Bengeo quarry by County Development Control Committee, the Stop Bengeo Quarry is now preparing to the imminent appeal against this decision, as well as...

Neighbourhood Plan Community Meeting

9 June 2017 By Admin Comment Closed

Hertford Town Council, the Bengeo Neighbourhood Area Plan Steering Group and local Residents’ Associations would like to invite the community of Bengeo to participate in creating a neighbourhood area plan for Bengeo. Attend this first community meeting to find out how Bengeo Neighbourhood Area Plan can influence where you live and work, and to have your say on: • future residential development • countryside and open spaces • roads, cycleways, and parking • shops, community centres, health provision • heritage and culture • anything else you think is important. This is an important, long-term community project that will shape the future of Bengeo and local knowledge and expertise provided by the local community will be critical to its success. Residents, businesses and local organisations - please come along to the meeting to share your views and find out how you can get involved! Download Leaflet (PDF)...

Final Rally Says ‘No’

15 March 201715 March 2017 By Admin Comment Closed

More than 150 people turned out on Sunday 12th March for the final rally of support for the campaign to stop plans for a gravel extraction quarry in Bengeo getting the green light. Residents from Bengeo and further afield, including many families with children at nearby Bengeo school, gathered at the Wick park and walked to the field at the heart of the proposals. On Friday, the group were delighted to hear that planning officers at Hertfordshire County Council were recommending that the proposals were turned down. Key to their concerns are air pollution caused by the dust produced during the extraction process and road congestion caused by the HGVs travelling to and from the plant each day. Aska Pickering, who chairs the campaign committee group, said: "After almost a year of campaigning and gathering support, we were delighted to hear of the planning officers' recommendations. However, the decision will be made by the Development Control Committee on 22nd March, so we wanted to give...

Aerial Photo Opportunity

2 March 2017 By Admin Comment Closed

We would like to invite you to join us at the Wick Field/Sacombe Road playing field on Sunday 12 March 2017. This is our last chance to show our opposition to the quarry application in Bengeo Field. We are hoping that you can come and join us briefly to raise some further publicity before the HCC Committee meeting. The plan is: 11-11.15am aerial photo in the Wick Field – we will stand in the shape of letter NO, other photos will be taken on ground 11.15-11.45 walk to the Lonely Oak tree to put a stone in the circle around the tree. Please wear red for stop and green for tree/field if you can. See you there! Please share....