District Council Withdraw Objection

District Council Withdraw Objection

By Admin Comment Closed
East Herts District Council have written to the County Council withdrawing their earlier objection against the Bengeo quarry. In their new letter they comment: "East Herts Council has no objections in principle to the proposed extraction, and in respect of the associated temporary built structures considers that the benefits of extraction and subsequent housing delivery would represent very special circumstances that would clearly outweigh the harm." AND "Whilst it is acknowledged that the proposed office buildings, bunds, and associated equipment would fail to preserve the openness of the Green Belt, and therefore represent inappropriate development, these are only temporary structures." However, the letter goes on to raise some concerns about the application: "In respect of the detail of the proposed scheme, the Council does have some concern, as mentioned previously, that the site is of an open aspect in an elevated position, publicly accessible, and in the immediate surroundings of Hertford and links to Bengeo and other villages and is less contained...
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Bengeo Field Usage Survey

Bengeo Field Usage Survey

By Admin Comment Closed
We are carrying out an updated survey about Bengeo Field is used by the public. Please can you respond to this very short questionnaire on Surveymonkey & share with everyone you know in Hertford & surrounding areas. If we want to influence the decision about the future of Bengeo Field, we need to provide the results of the survey before Christmas. » Follow this link to fill out the survey...
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CPRE Continue To Oppose

By Admin Comment Closed
The Campaign to Protect Rural England has written to the County Council restating their concerns about the potential quarry north of Bengeo. In their letter to planning officer Felicity Hart, they say: "we still have a number of concerns about the proposals and our previous letters are still relevant". They also refer to uncertainty regarding land to the south of the site and the current Minerals Plan review. » Read the CPRE letter here...
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Civic Society Urge Refusal

By Admin Comment Closed
Hertford Civic Society have written to the County Council urging them to refuse planning permission for a quarry north of Bengeo. Their four-page letter acknowledges the need for gravel extraction but raises a number of issues about the suitability of the Bengeo location, including the impact on the local environment; noise, traffic and dust nuisance, lack of a detailed restoration plan,  and the changes included in the current Minerals Plan Review, which removes the Bengeo field from the list of Preferred Sites. A second planning application was submitted after the first application was refused earlier in the year. The original plans is also the subject of an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate against the County Council's decision. » Read the Civic Society's letter here...
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District Council Formally Objects to Quarry

District Council Formally Objects to Quarry

By Admin Comment Closed
East Herts District Council has formally objected to the second planning application for a quarry north of Bengeo. In a letter to Hertfordshire County Council, the authority's planning officer Susie Defoe writes: "... the proposed office buildings, bunds and associated equipment would adversely impact the openness of the Green Belt and therefore would not constitute appropriate development". The letter also refers to damage caused by the "invasive" proposals and the the lack of detailed restoration plans. In concluding, the District Council's letter states: "East Herts Council objects in principle to the development and is not satisfied that the previous reasons for refusal have been properly addressed satisfactorily". » Click here to read the District Council's full response...
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Water-Supply Boreholes in Bengeo Field Preclude Safe Quarrying

Water-Supply Boreholes in Bengeo Field Preclude Safe Quarrying

By Admin Comment Closed
Our consultant geologist Bryan Lovell has written to the Planning Inspectorate detailing concerns over the threat to local drinking water presented by the proposed quarry north of Bengeo. In his letter, Dr Lovell describes the geology of the site and the risks identified not only by the applicant's own consultants, Hafren Water, but also by a report for McMullen's Brewery in 1992. The risks were also identified by the Lea Valley Water Company in 1990. "Fractures​ ​in​ ​the​ ​chalk​ ​aquifer​ ​mean​ ​that​ ​any​ ​pollution​ ​can​ ​reach​ ​the​ ​Wadesmill​ ​Road​ ​boreholes​ ​rapidly.  But​ ​clearing​ ​pollution​ ​from​ ​the​ ​small​ ​pores​ ​within​ ​the​ ​body​ ​of​ ​chalk​ ​rock​ ​is​ ​a​ ​lengthy​ ​and​ ​costly​ ​business.   By​ ​the​ ​time​ ​any​ ​pollution​ ​is​ ​detected,​ ​lasting​ ​damage​ ​may​ ​well​ ​have​ ​been​ ​done​ ​to​ ​Hertford’s​ ​aquifer.  Monitoring​ ​of​ ​pollution​ ​as​ ​it​ ​takes​ ​place​ ​is​ ​not​ ​the​ ​main​ ​issue:​ ​pollution​ ​must​ ​be​ ​prevented​ ​from​ ​the​ ​word  go. " Dr Bryan Lovell The letter goes on to address the necessary steps that would need to...
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New Conditions Sought by Environment Agency

By Admin Comment Closed
The Environment Agency has issued an additional response to plans for a quarry north of Bengeo. In a letter to the planning authority, they request an additional condition to any planning approval, requiring the applicant to provide a scheme for repairs to the water borehole in Wadesmill Road, before any quarrying takes place. The condition would also require the applicant to provide "a programme for future maintenance, schedule for repairs and a contingency action plan". » Read the Environment Agency's letter here The County Council is expected to make a decision on the Bengeo Quarry later this month....
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