An application to extract gravel from land at Wootton over the next 10 years will not now be submitted to the Isle of Wight Council until February.
Island company Wight Building Materials is seeking permission to extract material from Palmers Farm in Wootton to ensure it can continue to supply materials to the local construction industry.
A successful application would also protect around 40 jobs at Wight Building Materials as well as reduce the need to import sea-dredged construction materials from the mainland.
In advance of submission, Wight Building Materials has attended public meetings called by Whippingham and Wootton Parish Councils to explain the facts about the proposals and to listen to comments raised by residents. One issue identified has been how lorries access and exit the site and it is this area that Wight Building Materials is now looking at in particular.
A campaign group – Wootton Against Gravel Extraction – has been set up to fight the plans, as previously reported by Island Echo.
Steve Burton, Wight Building Materials general manager said:
“We have said all along that we are keen to work closely with the community in developing this plan and this remains the case.
“The issue of access is clearly a matter of concern to residents near the site and we are looking at all options to, if possible, arrive at a plan that addresses these reservations.
Article continues below this advertisement “This process is a thorough one and as a result we are now looking to submit our application early in the new year, probably February, rather than this month as initially planned.”
The Wight Building Materials plan would see sand and gravel extracted from the Wootton site in 4 phases over around 10 years with each phase being re-instated before work begins on the next.
The entire site will be returned to nature at the end of the extraction in an agreed plan that will leave behind a more biodiverse habitat than at present.
Not only are green fields being built over, but now green fields are being destroyed to provide the building materials to then destroy even more of our beauty to house those understanably wanting a better life for themselves, but all at our, and our environments huge cost.
Once built upon, it is FOREVER, and each house will then likely give rise, within a few short years to even more bodies seeking a home here, thus speeding up the destruction of our Island.
Spot on Carol, it’s a lose-lose for the environment.
Wbm employing islanders providing materials to repair the islands roads not just building supplies,
it maybe necessary somewhere but in this location?
its not just a bit of extraction it will include:
Concrete roads
Concrete hardstandings for wash out areas.
Construction of buildings used for offices
Construction of buildings used for welfare.
Construction of silt pits.
Construction of drainage.
Installation of floodlights.
Installation of security fencing.
Installation of signage.
impact on noise pollution.
impact on air pollution.
impact on environment.
And so it goes on and will they then start processing the aggregate at this location.
Have all other more sensible locations been explored.