Yeatton Farm in Hordle and Ashley Manor Farm New Milton included in Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan despite opposition

TWO sites in Hordle and New Milton have been listed as potential quarries in a proposed strategy for sand and gravel digging.

It includes Yeatton Farm in Hordle and Ashley Manor Farm in New Milton – which is already at the centre of a controversial bid for excavation, opposed by residents, town councillors and now the area’s MP.

New Forest West MP Sir Desmond Swayne told the A&T he had opposed the sites being used for extraction in the past, and he urged people to make their views known.

He said: “I am not persuaded that there is any reason that I should change my mind. Communities need to prepare to respond to the consultation.”

The Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan consultation draft outlines how to deliver enough minerals for the county’s needs as well as how it will deal with waste material that cannot be reused or recycled as renewable energy, up until 2040.

If either site makes it onto the final document, it raises the likelihood of digging there.

Extraction at existing sites includes Badminston Farm Quarry in Fawley, Downton Manor Farm Quarry in Milford, Blashford Quarry near Ringwood, Roeshot in Christchurch and Forest Lodge Farm in Hythe.

The revisions to include Yeatton Farm in Hordle and Ashley Manor Farm were agreed for consultation by Hampshire County Council’s ruling cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Members heard the changes in the plan were partially due to a need to comply with updated national policies as well as reflect “changes on the ground” in the county.

Cllr Edward Heron, HCC cabinet member for transport and environment strategy, urged people to take part in the consultation, which runs from November until January 2023.

He said: “There will be some communities in our county with a particular interest in this – there always is when there is a plan and we have site allocations in them. It will be of significant interest to some of those communities.

“I know it is inevitable with consultations – if those who are unhappy with something, do respond.

“But please also: a plea to people if there are things in here you agree with, particularly with our work on sustainability and water [quality], it gives a more balanced consultation if those who support various elements make their voices heard.”

As reported in the A&T, the Ashley Manor Farm application by New Milton Sand and Ballast for 1.7-million tonnes of sand and gravel over 12 years has sparked a huge backlash.

More than 200 residents have objected to HCC, added to by opposition from New Milton Town Council and New Forest District Council.

The site failed to make the list in 2007 after a previous planning bid by NMSB to dig the land was unsuccessful.

The A&T contacted Residents Against Gravel Extraction, the group opposing digging at Ashley Manor Farm, but no one was prepared to comment.

Hordle Parish Council and New Milton Town Council said they would respond to the consultation later.