So, despite the Environment Agency’s recommendations, despite all your excellent letters submitted during the consultations, despite the fact that there is nowhere in the Plan for material from Straitgate to be processed, despite the fact that Aggregate Industries are struggling to find a suitable access to the proposed site, despite the fact that there are less than a million tonnes of sand and gravel available, the Inspector in his wisdom has concluded that Straitgate should be in the Plan.

Separately, AI continue to work on their plans for the site, albeit slowly. They have more or less ruled out Little Straitgate as a potential point of access and are now looking at Birdcage Lane onto the Exeter Road at the junction with Toadpit Lane.

They are also considering the possibility of quarrying Straitgate on a campaign-basis, spread over ten years. If they couldn’t process at Blackhill, they would apparently consider taking the material all the way to Hillhead at Uffculme, some 23 miles away.

For further information, see

http://www.straitgateactiongroup.blogspot.co.uk

http://www.straitgateactiongroup.blogspot.co.uk.

You can also read about the Minerals Plan decision on Claire’s blog:
http://www.clairewright.org/index.php/post/planning_inspector_endorses_straitgate_farm_for_quarrying_in_minerals_plan