MORE than 200 Coggeshall residents showed their opposition to a planned 400-acre quarry on the edge of their village by forming a human chain on Saturday.
The 400-acre quarry – almost the size of 200 Olympic-sized swimming pools – is included in proposals by Essex County Council’s Replacement Minerals Local Plan which has proposed new sites in Great Bentley.
The Coggeshall Residents Against the Quarry (CRAQ) claim the footprint of the quarry would be as big as the "whole of Coggeshall itself”, and would destroy natural habitats as well as impacting Coggeshall’s historic buildings and heritage.
A spokesperson for CRAQ said: ‘’Today we showed just how unpopular this proposed site is with residents.
“The consultation gives us an opportunity to express our views and prevent approval of the quarry by Essex County Council.’’
Coggeshall parish councillor Jo Brindley, who is the council lead on the issue, said: “Coggeshall Parish Council strongly opposes the creation of a huge quarry on our doorstep, which would cause irreparable harm to our historic village.
“We are supported by Braintree District Council in this. Saturday’s demonstration shows the strength of opposition to the quarry in our community.”
Lee Scott, cabinet member for planning a growing economy at County Hall, said: “No decisions on the allocation of any sites have been made, and we will take the views of our communities fully into account as the Replacement Essex Minerals Local Plan is finalised.
“Like other planning authorities across the country, we are required to publish a Minerals Local Plan. This provides policies for minerals development in the county and identifies future sites for extraction or quarrying."
Mr Scott added: “Minerals are essential to our way of life – we need them to build homes, schools, hospitals, roads and more.
"It is therefore in everyone's interests that we can secure an adequate supply of minerals and support the growth of Essex.
The public consultation on the proposal will close at 5pm on March 19 and can be found at essex.gov.uk/minerals-review.
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