Summary of Applicant’s Amendments

• Amendment of the restored landform to address the concerns of the HCC landscape officer – the overall amount of gravel to be removed is said to be reduced from 2.6 million tonnes to 1.75 million tonnes in the new plan, i. e. reduced by 0.85 million tonnes or 33%.
• Reduction of the overall period of the development from 15 to around 10 years.
• However, the area affected by the excavation remains the same and the landscape would still be permanently damaged. Any effective use of the byway would be removed for 5 or 10 years, at least, not to return in the same form.

• More gradual slopes on restored land leading to higher (or ‘less low’) final levels. Originally there was a flat base of 12 metres deep and steep banks at the side, now there is an undulating base with a bank of 8 metres to the north of the site. Bund (bank) number 1 across southern end of phase 1 (opposite The Orchard) increased in height from 3 metres to 4 metres. Slopes along western and southern edges of phase 1 once restored removed. Slopes along northern and western edges after work complete ’slackened’.
• Planting along western edge extended further south (to opposite The Orchard) and number of gaps through planting increased from 3 to 5 – as a ‘more informal series of woodland blocks’.
• New permissive path along western edge retained after digging complete.
• The developer presents data to back up traffic impact being only 4% but assume equal traffic flows per hour, including Rickneys (which may reopen this year).
• The proposed access road remains separate from the Rickneys access road. It seems assumed that there will not be much impact on school traffic.
• There is no Health Impact Assessment. However, the Air Quality Report submitted by the developer concludes that “there will be no unacceptable impacts to the air quality locally. The local concern on health based on the possible deterioration of air quality which the report shows to be misplaced.” We understand this report has been referred toPublic Health England.
• Operations in phase 1 would cease when wind is in the NE ie blowing towards the school and allotments.
• “In view of the site being within the groundwater catchment of the public water supply borehole at Wadesmill, the Environmental Agency policy allows mineral extraction (subject to conditions) but does not allow material to be imported to aid restoration. Therefore, to satisfactorily address the landscape concern, the depth of the excavation needs to be restricted.”
• The Lonely Oak tree and three oaks will be retained. ’Standoff’ (undisturbed area) around 3 trees on western side increased from 10m to 15m.
•  However, developers do not show how the walking route on the byway will be retained in anything like its current form. It will at best be a desolate track through a quarry, transformed from a health walk asset to a health and safety hazard for the large numbers of children, pets and people of all ages who use it every day of the week.
• Staff car park for 12 cars and 4 bicycles shown and agreement that a Condition Survey would be taken before construction commences and upon completion to assess highway degradation.
• No noise assessment provided.