Second Public Inquiry REJECTS Quarry proposal

The Planning Inspector decided on the 16th January 2025 to reject the planned Quarry proposal.

WE HAVE WON AGAIN!

The Quarry At Lea Castle Farm has been Stopped

This blight on our countryside, and danger to our health as well as the wildlife, has been REJECTED.

Lea Castle Farm PROTECTED

Widespread exposure to harmful mineral dust for residents and children prevented

We are a group of concerned residents who oppose the proposed sand & gravel quarry at Lea Castle Farm, Kidderminster – situated alongside the A449 (Wolverhampton Road) and B4189 (Wolverley Road).

 

THE PLANNING INSPECTOR HAS REJECTED THE PROPOSED QUARRY AT LEA CASTLE FARM

Hello Everyone
And so we won…again! This is awesome news for our community. Mal has already posted all the thanks so well I won’t repeat them all but hey well done everyone!
So where do we go from here. Yes a celebration is definitely on but not wishing to tempt fate and really not wanting to be a party pooper let’s just wait for the appeal period to run down!
The process from here, as I understand it, is that they have 6 weeks to ask for a judicial review. Really, honestly after 2 inspectors finding against them I can’t see any right minded business (yep I know we don’t think they are in the first place) doing that but we have to wait 6 weeks to make sure.
Then just to get this finally closed we have some more work to do to make sure that insanity doesn’t prevail and this doesn’t end up as a preferred site on the Minerals Local Plan. We are on this already and we won’t take anything for granted until that final nail is in the coffin.
In the meantime let’s enjoy our 3rd victory on this all against the odds. What a result, what a community!
Mike Lord

Firstly, what a fantastic community we live in. Even yesterday a lady said to me “they’ll win. You can’t fight the big boys”. WRONG !!
This just proves what is achievable when everyone joins together with a common goal.
Now the thank you’s:
An amazing committee, who have spent many hours of their time, going through plans and documents that are mind blowing to understand. All voluntary, because of-their dedication to this community, Quite frankly, they will be happy going back to their day jobs and businesses, less work.
To every councillor from all parties that have fought this proposal from the beginning.
To all the businesses that have given support and donated.
To every volunteer who has hung banners, relentlessly pounded the streets delivering thousands of flyers.
For all Fund donations.
To everyone who has shared, spoken, or talked about this proposal.
For every written objection that was raised and sent in. I personally watched the girls handling these at the Appeal. At one point you crashed the internet.
Foe everyone that spoke at the Appeal with so much passion for their surroundings.
To our Barrister Sinead Davis, Absolute passion and support for this campaign.
Probably a lot more that I have missed, but basically a massive thank you to everyone who has been part of this campaign. You have been a strong United and amazing community, who have proven that when you feel so strongly about your environment, and the right result can be achieved.
Marilyn McDonald

Documents relating to the Inquiry can be viewed on the Council’s website: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/leacastlequarry.

Please read the presentation from our 2024 AGM for an update on our progress and plans

Read the notice of a second Inquiry from the Planning Inspectorate.

Read the High Court Ruling of 16th November 2023 on the Planning Inquiry.

Read NRS Aggregates Ltd. High Court Application, and supporting documents.

Read Mark Garnier MP’s Letter to Michael Gove Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Read the Original Planning Inquiry Decision.

Timeline:

Following the submission of the Scoping request to Worcestershire County Council in April 2018, and two public consultations held in Cookley and Wolverley in June 2019, this campaign group was formed in readiness to fight a planning application which was then submitted in January 2020.

On 30th April 16th July and 19th July 2021 NRS Aggregates Ltd wrote to Worcestershire County Council submitting additional information to further support their planning application.

On 27th May 2022 Worcestershire County Council Planning Committee voted AGAINST the planning application by a slim majority. We thought we had won, but……

On 7th November 2022 NRS Aggregates submitted an Appeal against the decision, and asked for a Planning Inquiry to be held, which sat from 28th February to 8th March 2023, and published its decision to dismiss the appeal on 5th May 2023.

On 5th May 2023 Planning Inspector Stephen Normington Dismissed the Appeal by NRS Aggregates Ltd. against the Worcestershire County Council decision to reject planning permission for a Sand & Gravel Quarry at Lea Castle Farm. This means, unless NRS Aggregates take this to the High Court, there will be NO QUARRY! (we thought….again….).

On 15th June 2023 NRS Aggregates Ltd. made an application to the High Court for a Judicial Review of the Planning Inspector’s decision in an attempt to have it overturned – a process that was concluded on the 16th November 2023 with the High Court ruling that the decision was invalid on a point of law. So the Quarry is once more a possibility.

On 16th November 2023 the High Court ruled that the Planning Inspector had erred on a point of law, and quashed his decision.

We are a group of concerned residents who oppose the proposed sand & gravel quarry at Lea Castle Farm, Kidderminster – situated alongside the A449 (Wolverhampton Road) and B4189 (Wolverley Road).

 

THE PLANNING INSPECTOR HAS REJECTED THE PROPOSED QUARRY AT LEA CASTLE FARM

Hello Everyone
And so we won…again! This is awesome news for our community. Mal has already posted all the thanks so well I won’t repeat them all but hey well done everyone!
So where do we go from here. Yes a celebration is definitely on but not wishing to tempt fate and really not wanting to be a party pooper let’s just wait for the appeal period to run down!
The process from here, as I understand it, is that they have 6 weeks to ask for a judicial review. Really, honestly after 2 inspectors finding against them I can’t see any right minded business (yep I know we don’t think they are in the first place) doing that but we have to wait 6 weeks to make sure.
Then just to get this finally closed we have some more work to do to make sure that insanity doesn’t prevail and this doesn’t end up as a preferred site on the Minerals Local Plan. We are on this already and we won’t take anything for granted until that final nail is in the coffin.
In the meantime let’s enjoy our 3rd victory on this all against the odds. What a result, what a community!
Mike Lord

Firstly, what a fantastic community we live in. Even yesterday a lady said to me “they’ll win. You can’t fight the big boys”. WRONG !!
This just proves what is achievable when everyone joins together with a common goal.
Now the thank you’s:
An amazing committee, who have spent many hours of their time, going through plans and documents that are mind blowing to understand. All voluntary, because of-their dedication to this community, Quite frankly, they will be happy going back to their day jobs and businesses, less work.
To every councillor from all parties that have fought this proposal from the beginning.
To all the businesses that have given support and donated.
To every volunteer who has hung banners, relentlessly pounded the streets delivering thousands of flyers.
For all Fund donations.
To everyone who has shared, spoken, or talked about this proposal.
For every written objection that was raised and sent in. I personally watched the girls handling these at the Appeal. At one point you crashed the internet.
Foe everyone that spoke at the Appeal with so much passion for their surroundings.
To our Barrister Sinead Davis, Absolute passion and support for this campaign.
Probably a lot more that I have missed, but basically a massive thank you to everyone who has been part of this campaign. You have been a strong United and amazing community, who have proven that when you feel so strongly about your environment, and the right result can be achieved.
Marilyn McDonald

Documents relating to the appeal can be viewed on the Council’s website: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/leacastlequarry.

Please read the presentation from our 2024 AGM for an update on our progress and plans

Read the notice of a second Inquiry from the Planning Inspectorate.

Read the High Court Ruling of 16th November 2023 on the Planning Inquiry.

Read NRS Aggregates Ltd. High Court Application for Judicial Review, and supporting documents.

Read Mark Garnier MP’s Letter to Michael Gove Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Read the original Planning Inquiry Appeal Decision.

Timeline:

Following the submission of the Scoping request to Worcestershire County Council in April 2018, and two public consultations held in Cookley and Wolverley in June 2019, this campaign group was formed in readiness to fight a planning application which was then submitted in January 2020.

On 30th April 16th July and 19th July 2021 NRS Aggregates Ltd wrote to Worcestershire County Council submitting additional information to further support their planning application.

On 27th March 2022 Worcestershire County Council Planning Committee voted AGAINST the planning application by a slim majority. We thought we had won, but……

On 7th November 2022 NRS Aggregates submitted an Appeal against the decision, and asked for a Planning Inquiry to be held, which sat from 28th February to 8th March 2023, and published its decision to dismiss the appeal on 5th May 2023.

On 5th May 2023 Planning Inspector Stephen Normington Dismissed the Appeal by NRS Aggregates Ltd. against the Worcestershire County Council decision to reject planning permission for a Sand & Gravel Quarry at Lea Castle Farm. This means, unless NRS Aggregates take this to the High Court, there will be NO QUARRY! (…. We thought…..again…).

On 15th June 2023 NRS Aggregates Ltd. made an application to the High Court for a Judicial Review of the Planning Inspector’s decision in an attempt to have it overturned – a process that completed on the 16th November 2023 with the High Couirt ruling that the decision was invalid on a point of law. So the Quarry is once more a possibility.

On the 16th November 2023 the High Court ruled that the Planning inspector had erred oin a point of law, and quashed the findings.

Watch a clip from BBC Midlands Today about the Lea Castle Farm Quarry below:

Watch a clip from ITV News about the Lea Castle Farm Quarry below:

Watch a clip from Mark Garnier talking to Westminster Hall about Lea Castle Quarry:

IMPACT

  • The planning application has already been rejected by Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council, Wyre Forest District Council and Worcestershire County Council who have local knowledge of the area and impact to residents, schools, business, and the environment.
  • NRS has submitted more than 30 new documents. The applicant should be forced to produce a single document as required by law.
  • The scoping report is now nearly five years out of date and supporting reports such as those relating to highways and the environment are now nearly two years out of date. This proposal is not being considered on information that is current.
  • Due to the pandemic the majority of those on the WCC planning committee have not even visited the site.
  • They state they propose to infill the quarry with inert material (this is tipping or landfill).
  • NRS are trying to justify their damage to the environment by submitting pretty pictures of families picnicking ignoring noise, dust, and traffic congestion.
  • There is no attempt to justify the traffic chaos and danger to local residents and schoolchildren from the HGV’s – over 150 movements per day not including traffic to infill.
  • The economic argument is that 11 jobs will be created but this ignores the loss of value to our homes or the negative affect on new property delivery, losses through congestion or the cost of poor health.
  • There is a conflict in policy between Wyre Forest/Homes England’s push for new homes at Lea Castle Hospital and NRS’s quarry works within a few hundred metres that has been ignored.
  • NRS relies on out-of-date workplace health guidance ignoring the huge risk to local residents’ health from airborne sand particles – dust. This is silica dust that causes silicosis a deadly lung disease. Health Authorities in the UK and around the world say dust from quarries can be deadly. This can result in silicosis which can kill people (Click here to find out more)
  • Destruction of Lea Castle Farms beautiful unspoilt countryside which will essentially become an industrialised area, a blot on the landscape, which is widely used by our local community and others from further afield.
  • The duration of the quarrying has already increased from 10 years to 11 years. If approved what is to stop the duration increasing further?
  • Widespread exposure to harmful mineral dust for residents and children attending the five schools within less than a mile from the proposed site.
  • Erosion and damage to local roads and potential for burst water mains.
  • A huge risk of irreversibly polluting the water supply to the villages of Cookley, Wolverley and parts of Kidderminster.
  • Impact on local businesses surrounding the proposed site.
  • Impact on the historical landscape and features, including removal of approximately 100m of boundary wall dating back to 1762
  • Disruption of public footpaths which have joined the villages of Cookley and Wolverley since 1750. Removal and damage of protected trees.

IMPACT

  • The planning application has already been rejected by Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council, Wyre Forest District Council and Worcestershire County Council who have local knowledge of the area and impact to residents, schools, business, and the environment.
  • NRS has submitted more than 30 new documents. The applicant should be forced to produce a single document as required by law.
  • The scoping report is now nearly five years out of date and supporting reports such as those relating to highways and the environment are now nearly two years out of date. This proposal is not being considered on information that is current.
  • Due to the pandemic the majority of those on the WCC planning committee have not even visited the site.
  • They state they propose to infill the quarry with inert material (this is tipping or landfill).
  • NRS are trying to justify their damage to the environment by submitting pretty pictures of families picnicking ignoring noise, dust, and traffic congestion.
  • There is no attempt to justify the traffic chaos and danger to local residents and schoolchildren from the HGV’s – over 150 movements per day not including traffic to infill.
  • The economic argument is that 11 jobs will be created but this ignores the loss of value to our homes or the negative effect on new property delivery, losses through congestion or the cost of poor health.
  • There is a conflict in policy between Wyre Forest/Homes England’s push for new homes at Lea Castle Hospital and NRS’s quarry works within a few hundred metres that has been ignored.
  • NRS relies on out-of-date workplace health guidance ignoring the huge risk to local residents’ health from airborne sand particles – dust. This is silica dust that causes silicosis, a deadly lung disease. Health Authorities in the UK and around the world say dust from quarries can be deadly. This can result in silicosis which can kill people (Click here to find out more)
  • Destruction of Lea Castle Farms beautiful unspoilt countryside which will essentially become an industrialised area, a blot on the landscape. This is an area which is widely used by our local community and other from further afield.
  • The duration of the quarrying has already increased from 10 years to 11 years. If approved what is to stop the duration increasing further?
  • Widespread exposure to harmful mineral dust for residents and children attending the five schools within less than a mile from the proposed site.
  • Erosion and damage to local roads and potential for burst water mains.
  • A huge risk of irreversibly polluting the water supply to the villages of Cookley, Wolverley and parts of Kidderminster.
  • Impact on local businesses surrounding the proposed site.
  • Impact on the historical landscape and features, including removal of approximately 100m of boundary wall dating back to 1762.
  • Disruption of public footpaths which have joined the villages of Cookley and Wolverley since 1750. Removal and damage of protected trees.
Quarry dust cloud area<br />

This plan shows the quarry marked in red. The prevailing wind is from the southwest (but obviously can blow in any direction). This shows how the whole of Cookley will be continuously drenched in silica sand which is known to cause silicosis, a potentially fatal disease. There are 2,500 people living in Cookley who will be affected and a further 4,500 in Wolverley and Broardwaters, and the thousands more on the new Lea Castle Hospital site developments (600 homes now with a possible 800 to follow), who will also be affected as the winds change.

We think this is unacceptable