CAMPAIGNERS opposed to the creation of a new quarry between Linford and Stanford-le-Hope are hoping that as the clock ticks down to the close of consultation and comment on the planning application, more local people will sign up to register their opposition.

And there has been some criticism among the campaigners that the management of St Clere's School in Stanford-le-Hope, whose boundary will only be a few hundred metres from the quarry, have not got involved in the protest campaign.

One of the lead opponents is Mick Thompson who believes the greatest danger to stopping the quarry is apathy.

He says: "We know that there have been a lot of issues with people not being able to register their opinion on wither the planning application itself or the consultation page set up be the council be we would encourage people to keep trying.

"Today there are still only 184 public comments. Do we really want another 20 years of more dust ingress, more noise, more heavy traffic movement, wildlife decline etc and then another landfill? So I urge you all to take a few minutes to submit your objections."

Details of how to make your point and links to Thurrock Council's sites can be found via the red button below.

"The last thing we want is the applicants to turn round and say there hasn't been a significant level of opposition," adds Mick.

He is also disappointed that he and other campaigners have not been able to muster official opposition from St Clere's, where hundreds of pupils and their families will end up living and travelling in close proximity to the quarry.

He says: "We have tried to get support from St Clere's but all we have had is a message from the head saying: 'Unfortunately we cannot get involved in political issues like this'.

"We are stunned and shocked and find it difficult to understand how a school can not look to get involved in such a local proximity issue to potentially help their students from suffering or not want to raise awareness to students' parents.

"Hopefully those parents will be aware of the situation and will take some action to register their opinions while there is still time."

Thurrock NubNews has spoken to the management at St Clere's and received the same message, though there were expressions of sympathy with the cause among staff, several of whom have registered their opposition privately.