Key Objections to New Proposed Quarry

Key Objections to New Proposed Quarry

By Admin Comment Closed
These are the initial points in response to the new application for a quarry north of Bengeo. Public responses are needed by 2nd November 2017 sent to HCC Spatial Planning: The new application area is within the current Minerals Local Plan “preferred area” (you may recall the previous application included phase 4, which was outside the preferred). However, the new draft MLP is in the process of approval and it has been recommended by HCC that Bengeo Field is no longer considered as preferred area. The formal approval of new MLP is expected in 2018. It is important to point out that in the old (current) MLP this area was agreed as preferred area only as an extension to Rickney’s quarry. Therefore, we argue, the application is not compliant with current MLP. The new proposal suggests extracting 1.25 million tonnes rather than 1.75 million tonnes. It is proposed to last 5-8 years (originally 8-10 years). Extension can be requested once...
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More About The New Quarry Application

By Admin Comment Closed
Revised plans for a new quarry in Bengeo suggest 3 phases, rather than 4, so the area will be within the current preferred area. It will still be very close to homes and the Bengeo School and the entrance will be still from B158 cutting across the byway/footpath. There will no stockpile area as suggested in the previous application - instead there will be mobile dry-screening at the point of extraction. Please make sure you send your objections to HCC by 2 November - by email or post (Ms Felicity J Hart, ref: PL\0870\17 - spatialplanning@hertfordshire.gov.uk or Spatial Planning and Economy Unit, CHN216, County Hall, Hertford SG13 8DN). Although some of the application documents look very similar (or like an amendment of the previous application), this is treated as a completely NEW application, and our responses need to be SEPARATE and COMPLETE from any other letters you sent. What usually happens is that residents don't respond to the 2nd application as strongly as to...
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Bengeo Quarry Continues to Threaten Hertford’s Landscape and Water

Bengeo Quarry Continues to Threaten Hertford’s Landscape and Water

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...
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Stopping Bengeo Quarry Is Not Over Yet

By Admin Comment Closed
The Bengeo quarry applicant has now appealed against the rejection decision made by Herts County Council's Development Control Committee in March this year. The appeal has been logged with Planning Inspectorate and HCC will be requested to defend their decision. We hope this will be a public hearing and we, the residents, will be able to have our views and the evidence presented by our experts. It does mean though that we are into the next stage of the process and we will have to consider experts, barristers, etc. We knew that stopping the application in March did not mean the end of the campaign. Please show your support and help us raise the awareness and funds for the experts that we will be carefully considering to represent us at the appeal. We won before and WITH YOUR SUPPORT we are well positioned to stop it again. More detailed information to follow soon....
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Field Could Be Dropped From Minerals Local Plan

By Admin Comment Closed
The Bengeo Field could be dropped as a Preferred Area for gravel extraction when the next Mineral Local Plan is adopted in 2019. Herts County Council will meet on Thursday 7th September to discuss recommendations for areas to be included in the forthcoming draft plan for the county. The Council's planning team have proposed four options, recommending an option that does not include Bengeo Field or Rickneys. If endorsed, this would mean that these areas are not included in MLP, and are not "preferred areas for quarrying"! The further formal process needs to go through a number of stages: The recommendation is submitted to the Environment Cabinet Panel of elected County Councillors. If accepted, the recommendation goes then to the Cabinet. If the Cabinet decide to endorse the recommendation then it officially becomes HCC DRAFT Minerals and Waste Plan (the key formal decision point). The draft plan then goes to full council towards the end of the year after which it is the official plan...
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Summer Walk To The Woodman

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...
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Chapmore End Joins Campaign

By Admin Comment Closed
Press Release from Chapmore End Association It is with great pleasure that the residents of Chapmore End announce that they have formed an alliance with the Stop Bengeo Quarry campaign. Chapmore End is a small hamlet of around 30 houses and although we have had a lot of success fighting gravel extractions for more than 30 years, we are still fighting to protect our environment. We know the developers intend to appeal against the HCC Committee’s decision to reject the Bengeo Field quarry proposal. In addition, they are also expected to submit a separate new application. Also imminent is a public consultation and decision from HCC regarding the Minerals Local Plan, which will identify the preferred areas for mineral extraction. And with the future of Rickney’s quarry still uncertain, we believe it is important that we make every effort to join forces with the residents of Bengeo and other local areas. The residents of Chapmore End have been very impressed with the way Bengeo...
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Lapwing Breeding on Bengeo Field

By Admin Comment Closed
This article has been submitted by Diana Howarth I have been monitoring bird species on my regular walks across Bengeo Field and have noted that this year there have been at least two pairs of Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) in the north western part of the field.  Also known as the peewit, this striking bird with a distinctive crest usually appears in large flocks, but has been in recent decline. The uncultivated area of stony ground with low covering of vegetation in the highest part of the field is an ideal habitat for these ground nesting birds.  They lay their eggs, looking like stones, in a small scrape on the ground where they are camouflaged from predators.  The fluffy striped chicks run around and learn to sit still when the crows are about making them almost invisible.  At least one pair have bred four chicks successfully and reared them into strongly growing juveniles.  I last saw these juveniles and the breeding pair on...
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Neighbourhood Plan Community Meeting

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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)...
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