Our proposals for a sand and gravel quarry at Wasperton Farm

There is a national aggregates supply crisis – demand is growing but reserves are running out.

Sand and gravel is essential to build and maintain our homes, hospitals, schools and roads and to make products like fertilisers and glass, and every county needs to have its own supply.

That’s why we are proposing a new quarry at Wasperton Farm, near Barford, which has proven high quality mineral reserves and would provide over one third of Warwickshire’s sand and gravel needs for 10-15 years.

Sand and gravel quarries look very different from hard rock ones as extraction only involves removing the top 3 or 4 metres and they can be restored quickly, so there is a limited short-lived impact on the landscape.

Our plans would see the extraction of around 2 million tonnes of aggregate – most of which will be used in local projects – through 12 planned zones. Extraction would be phased, with a maximum of 30% of the site actively quarried at any one time, allowing for progressive restoration. As a result, some areas would be fully restored in just 3 or 4 years, turning some of the species-poor land into rich, biodiverse habitats including a freshwater lagoon system.

The site would be screened by green embankments, planted with wildflowers, which would also help prevent noise and dust escaping. The processing plant would be positioned behind a copse of trees and well away from homes.

Smiths Concrete has been operating in Warwickshire and Oxfordshire for over 50 years. We are a local company employing local people and take pride in being a good neighbour, working in partnership with local communities and delivering exemplar quarry restorations.

[JohnLEvans]

more bloody traffic lights - I hope they're rush hours only! there are already too many trafic lights; on Europa way, for example!
AND!!! How will you prevent Barford from becoming a rat run & even more fatalities on the A429, Barford Bypass, on top of the Gravel Pit traffic?