Council says applicants won't be sneaking through back door with controversial bid for massive new quarry
RESIDENTS and councillors in East Thurrock have been reassured there is 'no suggestion' of a massive quarry application for the area 'sneaking through the back door' and being given planning permission because of delays with Thurrock Council's planning system.
It is now more than five years since an application was made to expand an existing small quarry into a huge one, with mineral extraction first and then filling with waste material over a number of years.
Ingrebourne Valley Limited first submitted plans for Orsett Quarry, including the erection of processing plant and an infilling programme, in 2019 - sparking waves of local opposition.
Since first proposed, more than a thousand residents have expressed their objections to the scheme, while Thurrock Council has delved deep into the complex series of submissions.
After the initial outpouring of local anger and registration of many objections it seems the plan was lying fallow – but in June last year, Ingrebourne approached the council with a series of fresh plans proposed as amendments to the original application.
Again, little has appeared to happen since and there appears no likelihood of a planning meeting in the near future being asked to debate and make a decision on the scheme, which covers a large, triangular swathe of land between Linford, Orsett and Stanford-le-Hope
That prompted fears from local ward councillors Fraser Massey (East Tilbury) and Neil Speight (Stanford West) that Ingrebourne might follow a path by housing developers Mulberry Strategic Land and go straight to the Planning Inspectorate for permission, by-passing the council.
Mulberry did that and obtained the green light to build up to a 1,000 new homes in Linford and East Tilbury despite massive local concern – and a belated determination by the council that it was minded not to approve the scheme.
Residents were left frustrated and angry and the council was accused of letting the application sneak through the back door because of its failure to act in a timely manner.
Councillors asked what the possibility of a repeat direct application, relating to Orsett Quarry, might be and what the council's position currently is on the controversial application.
The council was also asked why it has taken more than five years to get to today's position?
A statement from the council says: "The council's planning team are aware of local concerns and is in close contact with the applicant to ensure any proposal for this area meets our clear planning expectations, putting residents' wellbeing and safety first.
"This is a complex application, and our planning team are in touch with the applicant and their agents throughout.
"Given this ongoing process there has never been any suggestion of an appeal against non-determination of the application, on the contrary the agent is looking to continue to work with us on this application instead of appealing."
Among those who have been in the forefront of objections to the quarry is Cllr Massey, who gave detailed reasons why it was out of proportion, not reasonable and not welcome.
The full list of documents with the application - and the 1100 comments from the public it has generated can be viewed via this link.
Previous Nub News stories include:
New thurrock Jobs Section Launched!!
Vacancies updated hourly!!
Click here: thurrock jobs
Share:
