New Forest District Council sides with objectors over New Milton Sand and Ballast gravel quarry plan at Barton

NEW Forest District Council has joined opponents to plans for a gravel quarry on greenbelt land on the edge of Barton.

The proposals have sparked a huge backlash, with hundreds of residents and the town council already lodging strong objections.

New Milton Sand and Ballast (NMSB) applied to Hampshire County Council for permission to extract 1.7-million tonnes of sand and gravel from Ashley Manor Farm, which runs parallel to Angel Lane, over 12 years.

The company claimed it had “in part” addressed residents’ fears during “extensive” public consultations conducted in the lead-up to lodging its latest plans back in July.

But since then more than 200 residents have written to HCC calling for it to be rejected.

Now, NFDC has added its opposition on the grounds Ashley Manor Farm is not on HCC’s list of sites earmarked for gravel extraction.

As reported in the A&T, the plot failed to make the list in 2007 after a previous planning bid by NMSB to dig the land was unsuccessful in 1992.

A subsequent appeal also failed after hundreds of residents said development would destroy the landscape and have a huge impact on livelihoods.

In NFDC’s latest response, a conservation officer argued the applicant had failed to properly consider the impact of the development on three Grade 2 listed buildings, as well as undesignated heritage assets including 19th century cottages.

The town council is also opposed to the quarry, which it said will result in noise and dust pollution, and harm biodiversity.

“There is also great concern about potential future health impact of silica, particularly for those most vulnerable,” said the authority. “This fact has not been formerly assessed.”

Residents said the scheme, given its proximity to homes, schools, businesses and care homes, will affect the health of the local population, harm the “abundance” of wildlife at the site, and deter tourism.

Concerns were also raised over a rise in lorry movements, the loss of amenity including well-used footpaths, and potential impact on coastal erosion and the water table.

However, there were also around 30 letters in support of the quarry from residents and traders who use NMSB, arguing that building materials needed to come from somewhere and the development would be good for the local economy.

HCC’s highways department has requested further information from the applicant, pointing out old traffic data for the A337 had been used in the applicant’s assessment.

HCC’s ecology team also stated it had insufficient evidence relating to impact on local habitats, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and protected species including bats, birds, badgers and reptiles.

It pointed out that “mobile species” could rely on the site as “supporting habitat”.

A spokesperson for New Milton Sand and Ballast said the additional information the firm was required to provide would likely take the application into next year.

“The consultation has found both support and objection from the local community and the statutory consultees,” they said.

“In due course we will be posting a Q&A document on our website, and holding further public sessions at our existing quarry in Downton to give local residents the opportunity to see one of our operational quarries and speak to our team.”