The case against the extension to Sevenoaks Quarry

The case against the extension to Sevenoaks Quarry Response to Planning Application by Tarmac February 2008, Supplementary Submission by Tarmac September 2008 and Further Supplementary Submission by Tarmac July 2009 by Local Residents and Seal Parish Council 1

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty To the North of the extension site lies the high ground of the North Kent Downs AONB, and specifically the Kemsing Downs AONB. The important and popular North Downs Way footpath runs along the top, and the historic Pilgrim’s Way runs below it. At the moment the beautiful views from these high points are completely unspoiled – not even a mobile phone mast in sight. Both National and Local planning policies make it clear that public bodies have a “duty of regard” to take account of the need to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of AONB landscapes when carrying out their statutory functions. The existing quarry lies behind a natural ridge, and is barely visible from the high ground of the North Downs AONB. The site of the quarry extension is, however, an entirely different case. “The overall effects of the developments proposed would be enormous in landscape terms, transforming the perception of the area by removing a landform which is vital to views from the North Downs and could not be replaced following working. They would last for at least 26 years, during which period most of the site most of the time would be visible from higher ground to the north, having a highly detrimental effect on the very large numbers of recreational users of this very valuable nationally protected landscape. ” from a letter to KCC by Nick Johannsen, Director, Kent Downs AONB Unit, 13 Nov 2008 “Sevenoaks Quarry Extension – would extend the quarry over an important ridge line, and so open up long views from the north (the North Downs AONB). This was identified as a particular consideration when permission was given for the current working area to the south” KCC’s Site Evidence base – Construction Aggregates 2

Air Quality Management Areas Sevenoaks District Council has a duty to regularly assess air quality and identify any ‘hot spots’ where air pollution exceeds government targets and can cause damage to people’s health. These ‘hot spots’ are designated Air Quality Management Areas, and local authorities are obliged to make real efforts to improve air quality within them. Those AQMAs close to the Quarry are shown on the map opposite. Tarmac’s application promotes Sevenoaks quarry as ideally situated for the motorways, but in fact the entrance to the quarry site is situated right at the Bat and Ball AQMA; the obvious route for lorries to join the M 26/M 20 into Kent is via Seal High Street AQMA since there is no link to the M 26/M 20 at Sevenoaks; and to reach the M 25, lorries must go via the Riverhead AQMA. HGVs to and from the quarry (average 189 HGV movements per day) would have to pass through at least 2 AQMAs in whichever direction they go, for the next 20 years. Diesel fumes from HGVs are known to be the worst polluters and removing 189 HGV movements a day would at least be a beginning to improving air quality in the AQMAs. It would also reduce overall congestion and so reduce pollution from idling car engines. The planning permission for the existing quarry (and the sand) is coming to an end, so those 189 HGV movements per day will also be coming to an end. Now is a perfect opportunity to make a real reduction in HGV use of the AQMAs by refusing the new, separate, planning permission for the quarry extension. The local authorities should show Sevenoaks people that they take their obligation to improve air quality in the AQMAs seriously. KCC’s new Local Transport Plan for Kent (1 st draft) highlights the Bat & Ball junction as having the highest volume of traffic on any of the Sevenoaks district’s main roads which suffer pollution problems. This is an ideal opportunity to actually enforce the Air Quality Action Plan which actively seeks to reduce HGVs in AQMAs. Stopping quarrying would mean 189 (average) fewer HGV movements per day at Bat & Ball AQMA. 3

Childsbridge Farm, 17 new houses QUARRY EXTENSION SITE W O R t. P Robinwood, 40 new houses Elderly people’s housing 4 new houses at h As Pl Primary School 4

Restoration now! The population around Greatness and Bat & Ball has already suffered 20 years of dust and noise pollution from the quarry’s bagging and processing operations. They were promised the quarry site would be restored to a wildlife reserve and public amenity around now. But if the extension goes ahead, the local population will have to wait a further 20 years, because it is proposed for these operations to remain at the Greatness end of the quarry. The Tarmac application says that the larger wildlife reserve they would create at the end of the next 20 years would be bigger and better planned than the one originally agreed to. However we think this is a specious argument – local people would much prefer a smaller wildlife reserve now, than to wait another generation for it. We believe Tarmac should be held to the terms of the original planning permission – that quarrying at Sevenoaks should come to an end and the local population should have the benefit of the promised wildlife reserve and amenity area now. Loss of trees, wildlife habitats and agricultural land 4 highly visible copses of mature trees would be lost if the quarry extension goes ahead, altering the landscape. Protected species such as Great Crested Newts and bats would be affected. Grade 3 a agricultural land would be lost. 5

The case against Sevenoaks quarry extension: v Views from the Kemsing Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty would be compromised v The extension site is on Green Belt agricultural land v The quarry extension would allow the continuation of quarry-related HGV movements through the Air Quality Management Areas for the next 20 years v The established and peaceful residential area of north Seal would be blighted by NOISE and DUST for the next 20 years v Having already suffered years of NOISE and DUST from the existing quarry, the population of Greatness and Bat & Ball deserves the restoration of the existing site to a wildlife park and amenity area now, as was promised v The quarry extension would mean the loss of tree copses, wildlife habitats and agricultural land The existing Sevenoaks Quarry is coming to an end (the end of its planning permission; the end of its sand reserves). This new application relates to a different piece of land is a separate and new planning application. The new planning application should be refused! 6

7