Quarries should be located where the deposits are deepest thus minimising the footprint and destruction of the countryside.
Our mathematical analysis of the number of tonnes of sand in each hectare in the present nominations shows that other areas have far larger deposits.
Whilst we understand from the OCC that their given figures may not be totally reliable, the present nominations in this area rank 9th, 20th, 50th and 59th
There are 59 nominated sites in Oxfordshire. Those in the Clanfield/Bampton area are:
| Site |
Area
(hectares) |
Estimated Yield
(tonnes) |
Site Efficiency
Tonnes per hectare |
Ranking |
| SG58a |
195 |
12,000,000 |
61,583 |
9th |
| SG58 |
111 |
5,060,000 |
45,585 |
20th |
| SG15 |
28 |
5,400,000 |
23,684 |
50th |
| SG38 |
400 |
2,000,000 |
5,000 |
59th |
|
The OCC identified site in the Clanfield/Bampton area produces the following figures:
|
| SG55 a & b |
1,344 |
54,000,000 |
38,690 |
27th |
Therefore, there are many locations in Oxfordshire with deeper deposits, many of these are within , or adjacent to, existing quarries which already have infrastructures in place. For this reason alone consideration of this area should be rejected.