The Issues

The key Issues

The Dorset County Council are currently in the process of creating a new Minerals and Gravel Plan for Dorset. The Plan will identify "preferred areas" for Gravel Extraction for the next 10 years. Once these sites are designated as "Preferred areas", gaining planning permission for gravel extraction is likely to be a formality.

Although the site known as Philliols Farm in Hyde was excluded as a preferred site in the last Minerals Plan in 1996 (see history of the site) we understand that Aggregate Industries will try and persuade the Dorset County Council to include it as a preferred site in the new Minerals Plan.

When the site was deleted from the previous Mineral Plan by the Inspector following public enquiry, Dorset County Council stated that "they do not fully share the Inspectors assessment of the severity of the potential impacts and considered that there may be scope to reduce and mitigate such impacts sufficiently to alter the balance in the longer terms".

As a result of leaving the door open in this way, one of the major extraction firm, Aggregate Industries Limited started to prepare a formal Planning Application in 2005 to extract sand and gravel. No application was submitted at that time , and it is believed the this was due to the difficulty of having an application accepted for a site which was not a preferred area within the existing Minerals Plan.

The procedure to produce a new Mineral Plan which will replace the one crated in 1999, has begun. During early 2007 preferred sites for sand and gravel extraction will be chosen and included in the new draft Plan and it is likely that the Phillios Farm (including Lower Stockley Farm) will again be considered.

Unless we are able to convince the Dorset County Council otherwise the beautiful Piddle Valley running through the hamlet of Hyde near Bere Regis will be destroyed. We need you to write to Dorset County Council and tell them you will object if the site is included.

TRAFFIC IMPLICATIONS

One of the major issues to be overcome is how to remove the gravel from the area. There is only a single track country lane running through the area which would be totally unsuitable for the large HGV lorries. We understand that the proposal from Aggregate Industries includes the construction of a ‘haulage route’ through Wareham Forest to the Bere Regis Road. Parts of the Wareham Forest may be closed to the public and the peace and quiet of the forest will be destroyed!

In addition local residents fear that drivers would not always follow the laid down route in moving gravel from the Philliols site to wherever it is needed. It would certainly lead to increased traffic around Bere Regis and along the road in Cold Harbour Wareham. Some lorries are also likely to use the route from Puddletown Road past the East Dorset Country Golf and Country Club to the gravel site. .

WASTE DISPOSAL AND LANDFILL

There is a strong suspicion that once gravel has been extracted from the Philliols site, there will be an application to use the site for landfill. The applicants, Aggregate Industries Ltd, have assured us that they have no such intention but they could change their mind later. However, another company could submit an application for landfill with further damaging results to the tranquillity of the area and the strong possibility of leakage from the landfill into the River Piddle and the poisoning of fish and other wildlife there.

Does this concern you?

Yes! This development threatens the whole locality, not just the roads in the immediate vicinity. Wareham, Bere Regis and Hyde will become blighted areas. Gravel extraction will cause:

	a reduction in property values
	an adverse affect on local businesses, shops and services
	Destroy our beautiful countryside both within the valley and in Wareham Forest.

Whilst we understand the need for mineral extraction, the Purbecks has continually borne the brunt of Dorset's requirements to provide sand and gravel like no other borough in Dorset.

The maps for the proposed sites are shown below - see just how close you are to certain noise, disruption, traffic, pollution and environmentally disastrous consequences.

Some of the points for concern are:

The Piddle Valley is a low lying area already under flood threat. Digging yet more gravel pits could adversely affect the ability of the area to deal with surface water drainage and create further flood risk.

There could be serious risks of water contamination and an increased risk of disease.

Dozens of heavy lorries every day will create pollution, road damage, dust and noise (up to one lorry every minute), which, coupled with the activity on the actual sites will have a detrimental effect on the local environment and quality of residents’ life. The road to take the gravel out of the area will also have a disastrous effect on Wareham Forest, which is used by horse riders, cyclist and walkers.

Potential health risks. It is proven that fine particulate air pollution (fpap) escaping from gravel pit mining and from the HGVs lorries can cause respiratory disease.

Mineral extraction will destroy the character and nature of the area. It will be environmentally disastrous.

The farms which are designated for agricultural land use will be destroyed for up to 10 years.

Using this site for mineral extraction is contrary to Dorset's planning policy.