The County Council held its first meeting to discuss the "Draft Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) - How to get involved in planning for Minerals and Waste in Dorset" in Dorchester on 7 March.  My wife, Gillian, and Lindsay Masters of Hyde House attended.  It is evident that the DCC is proceeding fast with its 'consultation' allowing only a limited time for observation - deadline 1600 hrs on 28 April 2006.

As you may have heard, a number of us who would be directly affected if gravel extraction were to be permitted on the Philliols Farm site have formed an action group: RAGE (Residents Against Gravel Extraction) to monitor developments and be ready to challenge any change to the exclusion of Philliols which was the decision of the Planning Inspector at the Planning Enquiry in 1996.

RAGE has started to get a website up and running and it is already worth looking at though, at this stage, not complete.  We shall be adding to it over the next few weeks.  The address is: http://www.gbpltd.co.uk/piddlerage

It may be necessary to involve you in what could become a very high profile dispute with a powerful multi-national, Holcim, who are the parent company of Aggregate Industries.

Malcolm, as our County Councillor and a Purbeck District Council Member, would you be prepared to involve yourself on behalf of the community in keeping Philliols Farm off the 'preferred areas' list?

Best wishes

Bryan

Tel: 01929 471 278