Presentation Document

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All members of the County Council's Development Control Committee have now received our concise document highlighting the main concerns raised by the campaign. The document addresses some of the main issues in response to the revised quarry application, covering: traffic and road safety, landscape and amenity, ecology, dust and health, water contamination, and archaeology. » Read our presentation document here...
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Final Rally Says ‘No’

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More than 150 people turned out on Sunday 12th March for the final rally of support for the campaign to stop plans for a gravel extraction quarry in Bengeo getting the green light. Residents from Bengeo and further afield, including many families with children at nearby Bengeo school, gathered at the Wick park and walked to the field at the heart of the proposals. On Friday, the group were delighted to hear that planning officers at Hertfordshire County Council were recommending that the proposals were turned down. Key to their concerns are air pollution caused by the dust produced during the extraction process and road congestion caused by the HGVs travelling to and from the plant each day. Aska Pickering, who chairs the campaign committee group, said: "After almost a year of campaigning and gathering support, we were delighted to hear of the planning officers' recommendations. However, the decision will be made by the Development Control Committee on 22nd March, so we wanted to give...
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Campaign Updates MP Mark Prisk

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Members of the Stop Bengeo Quarry campaign and County Councillor Andrew Stevenson met with local MP Mark Prisk on Friday 10th March, ahead of the HCC meeting which will decide whether the planning application will be approved. Mark Prisk has been an active supporter of the campaign from the beginning and re-emphasised that he shares the campaigners' concerns about water contamination, air pollution also the loss of landscape and amenity. Mark and Andrew are both particularly concerned about the risk of water contamination and believe that the Environment Agency's advice that the quarry operator should simply monitor for pollution is seriously flawed. They intend to write again to the Environment Agency to stress this point and to present the highly critical geological assessments the campaign has received. Stop Bengeo Quarry campaign members raised the point that our local community has suffered the blight of quarrying over a very long period of time and that it seems far too easy for quarry operators to...
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Planning Officer Recommends Refusal

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County Council Planning Officer Felicity Hart has recommended that councillors refuse the planning application for the proposed Bengeo Quarry. In her 47-page report to the Development Control Committee, the planning officer highlights a range of reasons for recommending refusal, including: Inappropriate development of the Green Belt Impact on landscape Workings outside the area identified by the County Council as preferred for gravel extraction Highways issues The current landbank of gravel exceeds that required by law Inadequate Health Impact Assessment On behalf of the Campaign, Aska Wisniewska-Pickering commented: "It is absolutely fantastic news about the HCC Planning Officer's recommendation to reject this awful proposal to have a quarry just on the edge of Hertford. What is important now is that the HCC Development Control Committee make the final decision to reject it. " Constituency MP Mark Prisk also welcomed the news: "I am pleased that HCC's planners have rejected this application. They have made it clear that the application breaches several key policies and...
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Landscape Survey Results

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We now have the final results of our Bengeo Field Landscape Survey, showing evidence of how much it is used and liked. Some Facts The survey attracted 417 respondents. 14.5% of respondents used the field 3 times per week or more, whilst 69% of respondents used the filed once per month or more 95% of respondents thought the view over the field either special or very special The most valued elements of the view were the distinctive natural undulation (76.5%) and the view down to the Lonely Oak (72.5%). Most valued use of the field: Walking in green space 75% Enjoying open green space 75% Away from housing and development 65% Most common activities: Walking 84% Part of longer walks 52% Dog walking 36% Mountain biking 24% Other activities: Horseriding Playing with children/grandchildren Wildlife photography Gathering mushrooms, hazel nuts and berries Bird watching Nature exploration Picnics ...
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New Conditions Sought by Environment Agency

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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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Final Public Health Response

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The County Council's Director of Public Health, Prof. Jim McManus,  has issued a final response to the planned quarry north of Bengeo. The response re-asserts concerns over the robustness of the applicants Air Quality Assessment. In his letter to planning officer Felicity Hart, he states: "... we would expect the applicant to demonstrate a more robust evidence base than the current assessment allows to support its view that there is no significant risk to human health. Given that has not been done, we are minded to object to the proposal as it stands." (our emphasis) In conclusion, Prof. McManus comments: "... the applicant has not, as yet, been able to demonstrate to a sufficiently robust level that there would not be such harm, nor demonstrate robustly that mitigation measures based on their assessment would be sufficient to remove or substantially mitigate any risk, based on their current Air Quality Assessment." » Read the final Public Health response here...
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Parish Council Renew Objection

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Bengeo Parish Council have renewed their criticism of plans for a quarry north on Bengeo, following resubmission of RJD's planning application. In their letter to the planning authority they state: "... although the key amendments to the Developers application for extraction of gravel at Bengeo Quarry are welcome this still leaves major problems for the residents of Bengeo Rural who live adjacent to the B158. As stated in our previous objection the B158 is an extremely dangerous particularly when accessing by the residents. For the Rickneys application approximately 10 years ago the main condition which had to be fulfilled before any extraction took place was that a third lane should be installed opposite the entrance so the traffic can flow even though lorries are waiting."...
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