“Please stop destroying the countryside,” plead residents in response to plans for gravel extraction in Wallingford.
Aggregate suppliers London Rock have applied for permission to extract 550,000 tonnes of minerals at White Cross Farm but have abandoned proposals to then construct a 280-berth marina on the site once quarrying had finished.
Oxfordshire County Council rejected the company’s first application for several reasons including a lack of demand for new moorings.
The company resubmitted the application without the marina as it believed the refusal of the first application "focused particularly on the marina end-use, with limited concern raised over enabling mineral development".
READ MORE: Plans for gravel extraction at White Cross Farm in Wallingford return
However residents have commented on the application urging it to be refused due to the potential damage of the countryside and people’s health as well it causing traffic problems and the destruction of habitat.
Commenting on the application, one resident said: “The riverside remains a space for walking, recreation and picnics enjoyed by a large proportion of the local population as well as visual attraction for river users.
“The proposal is entirely unsympathetic to Wallingford as a whole and would significantly damage quality of life.
“The development would be completely damaging to human quality of life in addition to its effects on flora and fauna.”
Another resident added:
“Please stop destroying the countryside and wildlife for commercial gain. There is already enough over intensification in the area and local infrastructure cannot sustain such large developments.”
Another local said they were concerned about the potential increase in traffic.
They said: “This plan will severely impact an area of outstanding natural beauty and create massive traffic of heavy vehicles and resulting pollution, noise and traffic as well as providing only marginal economic value to the vicinity.
“The area is also part of the land used by many linked to the river for recreational use and this plan will likely disrupt this too.”
People are also concerned about the destruction of habitat for barn owls.
One resident commented: “This is an important part of the network of local barn owl territories and the rank grass habitat available to them for feeding on voles, etc, is locally diminishing due to other developments.
“This is one of the last local bastions for this species. I object to this diminution not only on behalf of the barn owls but on a personal and community level for this loss to our experience.”
An additional comment added that there is “absolutely no need” for the site. They commented: “This is just another money grab. It is right where the Thames Footpath is and would mean that area of absolute beauty would be destroyed, forever.”
The application is receiving comments until May 17. To comment, visit: http://myeplanning.oxfordshire.gov.uk
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