The original application to extract gravel from Bengeo Field was made at the start of the Easter holidays last year. Despite the depth of local concern and opposition among local residents, the developers re-submitted a revised application – this time to coincide with the start of the Christmas holiday.
The threat to the landscape and wildlife remains. The health concerns related to gravel extraction remain. The impact of the quarry on the water supply and highways remains a concern. And the good faith of the developers behind this application must also be a concern; it is an insult to local residents to play politics with the timing of their applications. How can local residents feel confident that the developers will behave any better in the future? And why would anyone wish to see Bengeo Field sacrificed for the sake of private interests?
The strength of local feeling, expressed in response to the original application, has had an effect. The period of gravel extraction has been reduced (from 15 to 10 years) along with the depth of the proposed quarry (from 2.6 million tonnes to 1.75 million tonnes). However, this doesn’t remove any of the grounds for concern felt by local residents. The character of the Bengeo Field landscape will be lost permanently.
Frustrating though it is to have to oppose the Bengeo Quarry all over again, if we wish to avoid industrial scale gravel extraction on Bengeo Field it is vital that the concerns of local people are voiced/heard. Please send your objections to HCC Case Officer Ms Felicity Hart, spatialplanning@hertfordshire.