Public Enquiry: Day 6

Day six of the public enquiry started with a number of strong presentations in support of the Stop Bengeo Quarry campaign. Cllr Mari Stevenson spoke about the Bengeo Neighbourhood Plan and the engagement of community in planning of their environment, as well as appreciation of the green spaces in Hertford. Steve Halsey spoke about the research into dust PM10 and the acceptable thresholds worldwide. He also questioned the methodology of the threshold assessment in appelants' Health Impact Assessment. Laura Wyer made a strong case from parents' perspective and challenged the suggestions that there is no evidence that the Bengeo Field is used. She quoted some of the users of the field who walk from Chapmore End daily, walk children to school. She also referred to the online survey where majority of respondents said the footpath would be no longer used if there was a quarry alongside. Simon Pickering talked about the impact of the extensive process on the community and the utter logical disbelief...
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Public Enquiry: Day 5

The public enquiry in to proposals for a quarry north of Bengeo resumed today following the bank holiday break. Wednesday opened with County Councillor for Bengeo Andrew Stevenson speaking on behalf of local residents. A Risky Operation in a Sensitive Area He explained that as an elected County Councillor he represented the concerns and interests of about 12000 constituents and several hundred businesses in his division. He considered the application by considering key issues: The need for this site and the new minerals plan context Housing needs in Hertford, East Herts and Hertfordshire Transport problems and the council's Local Transport Plan Risk to water Supplies Risk to public health Impact on the Landscape Need for £2m bond to underpin any conditions His conclusion was: "This is a risky operation in a sensitive area. There is no need for the minerals extraction and no need for the housing development the appellants have linked to it. There are no net community benefits at all from the restoration...
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Public Enquiry: Day 4

Day Four of the public enquiry into the County Council's refusal of planning permission for a quarry north of Bengeo marks the halfway point in the process. Much of today's morning session was taken up with public speakers, including Stop Bengeo Quarry campaigners Andrew Smith (Traffic and truck movements), Aska Pickering (strength of SBQ campaign support), David Adam (Air quality), School Govenor Libby Mountford (Impact on school), Headmistress Julie Starkiss (Impact on school), Suzanne Bray (Parent and local resident), Tanya Needham (First hand Experience of quarrying), Thalia Weston (Parent of child with cystic fibrosis), John Howson (Landscape and ecology), Robert Chandler (Cycling), Anu Palmer (Amenity and location), Mark Lynch (Landscape, Bengeo Neighbourhood plan) and Bryan Lovell (Water risk). Other speakers were Terry Mansfield , John Barnes, Alan Burgess and Kelly Martin. There were also presentations in support of the campaign from Councillors Steve Cousins and Andrew Stevenson. Later in the day, the appelant's water consultant Christopher Leake of Halfren Water Ltd was cross questioned by the campaign's...
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Public Enquiry: Day 3

We are now in to the third day of the 7-day Public Enquiry in to the proposed Bengeo Quarry. The morning of the third day was taken up with further questioning of the County Council's planning officer Felicity Hart. Ms.Hart defended the need for a measured and balanced planning decision. Following on from exchanges about landscape and rights of way the appellant's barrister, Isabella Tafur, challenged the planning officer on her understanding of minerals planning policies. The Campaign's consultant hydrogeologist Professor Rick Brassington was next to be cross-examined on water issues. The appellant's barrister challenged photographic evidence provided from the nearby Rickneys quarry. With regard to contingencies that might be put in place to deal with any threat to the local water supply, Prof.Brassington commented: "The measures are not sufficient for quarrying in Rickneys or Bengeo Field". Finally, RJD's water expert was cross-examined by the Campaign's barrister Katharine Elliot....
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Public Enquiry: Day 2

Welcome to our roundup of the highlights of Day 2 of the public enquiry at County Hall. The morning saw cross questioning of the County Council's mineral planner about gravel reserves. Significant time was also spent on discussing housing development, with the County Council asserting that housebuilding would not prevent future gravel extraction. The Council's Landscape Officer later set out the landscape objections, with questioning by the appellant's barrister focusing narrowly on trees. The Inspector picked up on this and tried to draw out a wider Landscape judgement. The Landscape Officer said that the quarry would change the character of the area overall. Finally, planning officer Felicity Hart gave her witness statement in which she outlined the reasons why she had refused the application, focusing particularly on the matters of the Green Belt and openness. She said that the field was a part of what Hertford was as a place and contributed to its character as it is at the gateway to Hertford....
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Public Enquiry: Day 1

The Public Enquiry in to the County Council's refusal of planning permission for gravel extraction north of Hertford has opened at County Hall. The first morning was taken up with procedural issues and the opening statements of each party. During the afternoon, the County Council's noise consultant addressed the enquiry and was cross-examined. This was followed by the Council's representations on gravel supply and the Minerals Local Plan. Highlights from the afternoon included: Noise HCC assert that Sacombe Road and The Orchard would face unacceptable noise levels for the first application of 1.75 million tonnes. Sacombe Road would face unacceptable sound levels for te second application of 1.25 million tonnes The County Council's witness was challenged on his criticism of the applicants research, sound levels of machinery and calibration of equipment. The witness gave solid responses in our opinion. The Minerals Plan & Existing Supplies of Gravel Existing approved plans will supply over 13 years of gravel Housing development south of the proposed quarry site...
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Public Enquiry Opens

A Public Enquiry in to the County Council's refusal to grant planning permission for a quarry north of Hertford opens today, Tuesday 1st May 2018. The enquiry is taking place in The Council Chamber at County Hall in Hertford and runs for Tuesday 1st to Friday 4th May, and from Wednesday 9th to Friday 11th May. The agenda has yet to be confirmed but typically the appellant & their witnesses will be heard first, then the County Council & their witnesses, then Rule 6 parties & their witnesses (Stop Bengeo Quarry and Andrew Stevenson). We do not know when the public speakers will be asked to speak - normally it is outlined by the inspector based on the availability of the speakers. At the Development Control Committee last week, the County Council highlighted conflicting information from expert speakers and statutory consultees, particularly with regard to health. Dr.David Adam also spoke on behalf of the campaign to highlight a new study by the HSE...
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Planning Permission for Quarry Refused

Stop Bengeo Quarry Group are delighted that Hertfordshire County Council have unanimously and unambiguously rejected the revised Planning Application. Aska Pickering chair of Stop Bengeo Quarry said: "This is amazing news. It is wonderful that the committee so firmly rejected this dreadful quarry proposal. We were all heartened by the robustness of the committee’s response and the strength of their support. It is testament to our many volunteers and the incredible amount hard work and effort that has gone into fighting this proposal over a period of two years. We now need to redouble our efforts to fight against the quarry in the Public Inquiry which is to take place between the 1st and 4th of May and the 9th, 10th and 11th of May. We have been preparing for this Public Inquiry for months. So please come along if you possibly can to give us your support" The proposal was rejected on 5 key grounds: Inappropriateness of the development in the...
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Families Spell Out NO to Quarry Plans

School children, parents and teachers gathered on Bengeo Primary School's playing field on Tuesday to show their opposition to a planned nearby gravel pit. A drone camera flew overhead and filmed the protestors holding up posters that spelled out a huge NO. They wanted to highlight just how close the proposed quarry would be to their school. School governor Libby Mountford said it was "disappointing" that, after last year's unanimous rejection of the application by Hertfordshire County Council's Development Control Committee, Bengeo residents were having to renew their campaign against the pit. "We shouldn’t have to do this all over again. The idea of excavating 1.25 million tonnes of sand and gravel - which we do not need - from a beautiful field so close to a primary school of 500 children and to so many people's homes, is preposterous," she commented. Campaigners believe that the dangers of silica dust in the air and the extra heavy lorries on the B158, plus the potential...
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