Neston quarry protesters lose fight (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
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Neston quarry protesters lose fight
5:04pm Wednesday 11th April 2012 in Chippenham
Neston quarry access protesters at Wiltshire Council’s offices
Neston villagers were left disappointed by Wiltshire Council’s decision to allow the reopening of a mine that has been unused for 50 years.
At the Strategic Planning Committee meeting, members approved the application by Neston resident Sir James Fuller and Somerset firm Ham and Doulting Stone Ltd to reopen Park Lane quarry to mine Bath stone.
The councillors held two votes, the first a tightly contested one, approving the construction of a new road and access area to the quarry by five votes to four.
The second vote unanimously backed the application that mineral extraction could take place once more at the quarry, below Neston Park, on the estate where TV drama Lark Rise to Candleford was filmed.
At the meeting residents of Neston raised concerns about HGV vehicle movements and the damage the quarry could do to the environment.
Neston resident and Corsham town councillor Anne Lock said: “It is incredibly disappointing.”
