Anti Gravel Group of Residents in Oxfordshire West is an alliance of 11 local parishes working together to fight Oxfordshire County Council’s plans for sand and gravel extraction in and around our villages.
AGGROW represents Alvescot, Bampton, Black Bourton, Brize Norton, Broadwell, Carterton, Clanfield, Grafton/Radcot, Kelmscott, Kencot, Langford and Radcot.
The plan is to excavate up to 2.1 million tonnes of sand and gravel across the entire county per annum. They may reduce that to between 1.15m and 1.6m tonnes. Neverthless, can you visualise what that means?
It means, 90 loaded lorry trips of 20 tonnes per day, assuming that contractors work a 5 day week. With the unloaded return trips; 180 lorry trips every day. This would be more than doubled by lorries carrying in-fill, equipment, etc.
It is not possible to describe adequately the ruinous impact which the proposed quarries will have on our villages, our lives and those of our children.
This is rural England: country roads with little bridges, narrow streets, old buildings set within ‘Domesday’ villages and conservation areas. Good agricultural land; so very sensitive to flooding that any change to water flow patterns can be disastrous, as well we know. An area of such beauty and rich biodiversity, it is difficult to imagine why anyone would even consider quarrying here, particularly when deposits of sand and gravel are far deeper in other parts of Oxfordshire. An ancient, virgin landscape with flat topography: there is no hiding place for quarries here.
Besides the floods and their associated cost and misery, there has probably never been a more serious threat to us than that now posed by quarrying. AGGROW is doing all in its power to ward off this unsolicited and unwanted intrusion. Speaking with one voice, and on your behalf, we are working very hard to put forward the strongest objections to these plans, but we cannot do it without your support.
Time scales are tight and, by early August we must present our case to the decision makers.. On October 19, the County Council will determine its preferred option and will then engage in public consultation for 6 to 8 weeks. By January, the wheels will set in motion for a Public Enquiry into the Oxfordshire County Council plan.
AGGROW’s campaign requires significant financial support, to pay for the necessary professional expertise we need to guide us. Through the generosity of a few residents, we have the beginnings of a fighting fund but much more is needed urgently.
Please donate - you can do so on this site or contact info@aggrow.org.uk