Category: Responses

We have received the following comments from a Waterford Heath volunteer, expressing concern about the planned extraction of gravel at Bengeo Fields: "The campaign to stop the proposed quarry at Bengeo has been gaining a good deal of local support, understandably. So I am writing to endorse the campaign and to highlight some things about the neighbouring, former quarry at Waterford Heath – and they are issues which could be relevant to Bengeo. Many local people from the villages of Waterford and Stapleford, as well as some Bengeo residents, have been involved in the restoration of Waterford Heath, for several years. From our experience it can take decades for places to recover from gravel extraction - and it has been more than a generation now for Waterford Heath, - ie, since it was formerly a quarry. For us, countless hours of voluntary effort have been involved: lots of campaigning with the various authorities went on before the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust took on...

Hertfordshire Ecology have issued comments on plans for gravel extraction in Bengeo. Their report highlights shortcoming and flaws in the application, with the summary stating: "Overall, the current proposal is flawed in terms of inadequate site description, impact assessment and mitigation and fails to provide the certainty required of a development of this scale in this location. It is unacceptable and should not be consented in its current form." » Read the full ecology report here Hertfordshire Ecology is an  ecological advisory service for Hertfordshire County Council and the 10 Local Authorities of Hertfordshire.  The services benefit from having access to sites, species and habitat information provided by the Hertfordshire Environmental Records Centre. Staff have access to a level of detail on species and sites that is not available more publicly. To find out more about their work visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/envplan/brcbio/eas....

Local MP Mark Prisk and Councillor Andrew Stevenson have both written to the Environment Agency raising concerns about the agency's response to plans for gravel extraction in Bengeo. Mark Prisk suggests that the EA has not met it's obligations in protecting water quality, while Andrew Stevenson goes in to more detail about shortcomings in the EA's response. Click on the link below to read the letters from Mark Prisk MP and Cllr.Andrew Stevenson. » Environment Agency letters ASMP Jun16...

Hertford Civic Society has formally submitted its objections to the proposed quarry. In their letter to the County Council they highlight an insufficient demand for gravel, the condition of the mothballed neighbouring quarry at Rickneys, and the "long-term despoliation of extensive tracts of land". The Society also comment on traffic, dust and the council's ability to enforcement planning conditions. Click the link below to read the full letter: » Civic Society Letter...

The Environment Agency has issued a written response to the planned gravel quarry north of Bengeo. In their submission they raise a number of concerns about potential harm to the water environment, suggesting that planning permission only be granted subject to a number of conditions. The agency highlights that the site lies in a highly sensitive groundwater protection area. The EA also advise that an Environmental Permit  must be obtained separately to any planning permission granted, and may not be granted given the sensitivity of the location. They further note that the proposed use of water for the wheel-washing of vehicles and dust suppression requires a source of water, which may not be available.  They point out that the local licensing strategy for the Upper Lee indicates that "there is no water available for licensing". The agency go on to highlight other concerns regarding air quality, emissions, road sweeping and road surfaces. You can read the agency's response by clicking the link below. » Environment Agency Response...

The Campaign To Protect Rural England have asked the County Council to refuse planning permission for gravel extraction in the field immediately north of Bengeo. In  a letter written to the council, CPRE Hertfordshire question the rationale behind the plan and it's compatibility with the current Local Minerals Plan 2002-16. They also express concerns about potential water pollution, with Phase 4 of the proposed quarry being just 100 metres from the Wadesmill Road borehole, rather than the minimum 300m as proposed by the HCC minerals policy....

The Woodland Trust have submitted a formal objection to the planning application for gravel extraction in Bengeo. Citing government guidance that states: planning permission should be refused for development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats, the Trust raises a number of objections to the quarry based on its location close to St.John's Wood, including dust and noise. In a four-page submission to the County Council, the Trust expresses concern about the affect of dust on the woodland's spoil chemistry and inadequate buffering around St.John's Wood. They also express concerns about noise and light pollution and changes to the hydrology, thereby altering ground water and surface water quantities. In their conclusion, they state: the Woodland Trust objects to this application because it is felt the buffer to protect St Johns Ancient Woodland and the protected species within it are currently insufficient....

Councillor Paul Phillips, who represents Bengeo on East Herts District Council, has submitted his letter of objection to the County Council. His comments highlight the impact of pollution, traffic, and the health and wellbeing of his constituents. He also comments on the merits of the plan overall: "... this application does strike me as opportunist when you consider the Consultation of the new Mineral Local Plan and I wonder if the application had been made 5 or 10 years ago whether the impact would have been as great." His full letter appears below. Dear Ms Hart, I am writing to express my profound objection to the application above. I am a local Councillor for East Herts Council and have been presented with over 240 letters and emails of concern, many of which I am sure you will have also now seen. As a Councillor, I am well aware of the needs of the larger communities, within Hertford, Hertfordshire and the Country as a whole. I also appreciate that as...