Dear Chris

 

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.

 

The County Council say that towards the end of last year they sent questionnaires to over 1,200 individuals and organisations including Parish Councils.  I am wondering if Bere Regis was one of those?  Do you recall have ing received a questionnaire and, if so, did the PC respond?

 

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 a Planning Enquiry in 1996.

 

The action group has started to get a website together and it is already worth looking at.   The address is : http://www.gbpltd.co.uk/piddlerage  We shall be adding to it over the next few weeks.

 

We are afraid that if permission is granted for gravel extraction, it will inevitably lead to an increase in heavy lorries going up and down the hill outside the school and, in due course, we fear there will be an application for landfill in the site created by the gravel extraction though Aggregate Industries have said that this will not be their intention.  But, another company might apply as landfill is more profitable than gravel.

 

Is the Parish Council aware of what is in the wind regarding the Philliols Farm site and its likely effect on traffic flows on the road past the school?

 

Chris, would you, as Chairman of the Parish Council, be prepared to involve yourself on behalf of the community in keeping Philliols Farm off the 'preferred areas' list?

 

Yours

 

Bryan