Local anger over decision to re-open Westdown Quarry

Local campaigners have expressed anger over the decision to approve reopening Westdown Quarry, off the A361, near Nunney. The plans were approved, following a long and heated debate, by Somerset Council’s strategic planning committee at a meeting in Shepton Mallet earlier this month.

The local community and campaigners have been battling for three years to stop the quarry from being re-opened by the multinational company, Heidleburgh Materials, (formerly Hanson UK). The company submitted plans for four different areas, but had withdrawn an application to dump waste from the proposed Westdown quarry into a regenerating forest next to the last remaining section of the ancient Asham Wood.

However, the other three areas have now been approved. The proposal includes the excavation of 168 acres in and around Westdown Farm.

The planning officer report showed that over 1,100 people sent letters of objection to the proposal, while three people wrote in favour.

Campaigners said that the landscape is rich in wildlife. They also said that the Somerset Minerals Plan, the guidance document that assesses production and need, is five years out of date. Two new quarries have opened in the region since it was last assessed and campaigners questioned the need for extending the Westdown site.  “The cumulative impact of multiple quarries in the same area was in no way addressed by the hearing,” explained a local campaigner.

“The Somerset Wildlife Trust objected to the application in the strongest possible terms, expressing concern about the revised plans for wildlife mitigation on a range of issues, including the absence of a proposal for the rare lesser horseshoe bat nursery and great crested newt ponds.”

Campaigners believe that serious questions remain about the need for the quarry. Heidleburgh owns nearby Whatley Quarry as well as Westdown. Local resident, Sue Potter explained, “I am deeply suspicious of Heidelberg’s motives for seeking planning permission for a quarry they obviously do not need. It has been stated frequently in the past that there was no intention to work Whatley and Westdown concurrently. Additionally, it is admitted that Whatley Quarry is not utilising all of its current allowances”

Citing concern about the volume of dust the quarry will create, a Nunney resident said, “Individuals continue to be encouraged to do our bit to help mitigate climate change, so surely when we have the opportunity to prevent large-scale environmental damage, we should take it?

“Yes, there has been quarrying in the Mendips for generations (my grandfather was a quarryman), but knowing what we do about the damage that we’ve done to the climate, we have to stop.”

Campaign member, Indra Francesco said, “We are devastated. A beautiful place and irreplaceable ecology is about to vanish off the face of the earth as a result of this decision. The increase in traffic on our roads will risk more deaths, people in tourism and hospitality face losing their jobs as industrialisation increases and many of us have lost faith in the local authority’s commitment to its climate targets. It’s a sad day for democracy.”

Speaking at the meeting, Frome councillor, Martin Dimery said, “Quarries cause airborn pollution, the dust endangers health and biological diversity. The addition of more lorries both on the narrow lanes and trunk roads, will have a significant environmental and safety impact. This contradicts the Net Zero policies of Somerset Council.”

Fellow Frome councillor Shane Collins added, “Too many councillors on this committee are from outside of the area, with little idea of how this application will impact on the local community.”