Villagers crowdfunding to fight quarry plans - The Leamington Observer

Villagers crowdfunding to fight quarry plans

Leamington Editorial 20th Sep, 2018   0

VILLAGERS are stepping up the fight to stop quarrying on their doorstep.

Residents in Barford, Wasperton and Sherbourne have launched a crowdfunding page to raise £20,000 in their on-going battle against proposals for a mineral quarry.

If given the green-light residents face 15 years of around 60 lorries a day transporting minerals along the A429. They have voiced noise, pollution and road safety fears.

Although one of the proposed sites, at Glebe Farm, was removed by Warwickshire County Council in July, the larger 220 acre site at Wasperton remains in the plan.




Communities Against Sand & Gravel (SAGAG), the committee set up to campaign against the quarry, has launched the crowdfunding bid, and has already seen £5,500 donated.

The money will be used to employ mineral planning experts and a barrister to help in the fight.


SAGAG chair Allan Murdoch said: “We urgently need to raise further funds and we need to do it quickly. Contrary to popular belief, no final decision has been made so we have everything to fight for. Last year we raised over £10,000 so we know that as a community, we can do this again.

“The proposed quarry will have a major impact on all of our villages. It would have devastating effects including irreparable damage to the land targeted for the quarry site.

“Currently prime agricultural farmland, it would not be possible to return this site to its current beauty or use. It is likely the land will be used for rubbish tips. There would be serious health issues for the villagers, including children at the village nursery and St Peter’s Primary School. Quarry dust causes potentially fatal and life-limiting lung diseases such as silicosis.

“We have a battle on our hands and we are determined to fight it to the end.”

SAGAG has to put its case forward to the county council next month.

A meeting to brief residents has been organised for Thursday September 27 at Barford Primary School, starting at 7.30pm.

Visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/savebarfordvillage to donate to the crowdfunding page.

Visit Barford Community Website at www.barford.org.uk for further information.

 

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