Quarry plans approved despite residents' dust fears
Plans to dig a new quarry next to the M50 have been approved despite fears over noise and dust pollution
Plans to dig a new quarry next to the M50 have been approved despite fears over noise and dust pollution.
CEMEX has been given permission by Worcestershire County Council to extract 475,000 tonnes of sand and gravel from a 22-hectare site known as Ripple East, off Bow Lane.
The work will take place over three years and the land will be “progressively restored” to a mix of woodland, farmland, ponds and meadows.
The area has seen its fair share of sand and gravel quarrying in recent years, with several extraction sites approved.
These include Bow Farm, which sits just the other side of the motorway and was approved by the council in 2022 despite intense local opposition.
At a planning meeting on Tuesday, July 1, councillors were split on the latest quarry plans – voting seven to five in favour of the proposal.
They heard from resident Nick Harknett, who said: “Our community has been pretty good at supporting aggregate supply but with this one, CEMEX has gone too far.”
Mr Harknett said residents were worried about silica dust – a substance found in sand that can cause respiratory diseases when inhaled.
“Silica is the new asbestos,” he said. “Studies are saying it’s a huge cause of death. You’re playing with people’s lives here.
“This site is too close to the villages. There’s an aging population – they’re going to be open to the dust particles.
“The dust and dirt will be horrendous. The prevailing wind comes across from M50 and will drive the dust and dirt into the villages.”
Councillors also raised concerns over silica as well as how close the proposed site is to the villages of Ripple and Uckinghall.
But Cllr Owen Cleary pointed out: “The health experts have no objections. I think we’re going down a rabbit hole over this.”
Cllr Martin Allen said residents had “already suffered 15 years of mineral extraction”, adding: “After years of fighting the Bow Farm application, they’ve given up.”
Cllr Tony Miller said the council, as a mineral planning authority, has an “obligation” to find suitable mining sites.
“I can’t think of a planning reason to reject this site,” he said.
Cllr Mel Allcott said: “I feel our hands are tied – either we approve it, or we reject it and it gets approved at appeal.”
She said after a visit to the site she could “clearly taste and smell the dust and it was quite unpleasant”.