The revised deadline for the Consultation Period of The Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2040, which proposes a quarry in Stanstead Abbots, is fast approaching. You have only one week left to have your say.
THE CONSULTATION STAGE ENDS ON 31st OCTOBER 2022. IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO, PLEASE DO ENSURE THAT YOUR OPINION IS HEARD.
We re-post the information on how to do that below:
Minerals and Waste Planning Policy Team Spatial Planning Unit (CHN216) Hertfordshire County Council County Hall Pegs Lane Hertford SG13 8DN
SIGN THE PETITION There is a ‘Stop the Stanstead Quarry!’ petition set up, which needs more support. The more people who sign the petition, the more notice will be taken.
[Please make sure you respond through the official channels, as well as signing the petition. Signing the petition alone will not be recorded as an official response by HCC.]
On Friday 14th October 2022, a Public Meeting was held at St Andrew’s Church, Stanstead Abbotts to discuss the proposed quarry at the Briggens Estate. Julia Davies, Councillor of Stanstead Abbotts Parish Council and The Three Villages Magazine committee member, attended the meeting and shares this report…
Report of the Public Meeting The meeting was opened by Mike Dormon, Chairman of Stanstead Abbotts Parish Council, who introduced Julie Marson MP. In her speech to the audience of more than 200 local residents, including members of Stanstead Abbotts Parish Council and St Margarets Parish Council, Julie Marson MP made it completely clear that she supports opponents of the quarry at the Briggens Estate.
Julie Marson will ask questions and invite a minister to speak at the despatch box in Parliament to deplore this quarry proposal, which has many holes in it. The extension to Harlow is quite enough development for this area. She will at least slow it down and use every tool at her disposal to stop it.
Miles Dymock then spoke explaining that he lives in the centre of farmland owned by City and Provincial who are leasing the land to Tarmac (who will carry out the quarrying). He urged members of the audience to respond to the consultation using a letter, an email or the online response form and not to be put off by the difficulty of reading the lengthy report that is the basis for the consultation. Just writing in to say you are against the Hertfordshire County Council Waste and Mineral Plan, and giving your name and address would help. Miles had a list of his objections, which were distributed. One of the key points he has made relates to the heritage of the site – he has collected boxes full of Roman relics, which he has put forward as evidence of this area having significant archaeological remains.
Miles spoke about the 80 HGVs that would be going in and out of the site on a daily basis, and that keeping them out of the village would be difficult. Mike Dormon explained that the plan had not taken into account the removal of the Eastwick roundabout, which will be replaced with traffic lights. Vehicles will therefore be looking for an alternative turning point in order to travel west to the rest of the east of Hertfordshire for which the sand and gravel is intended.
The sand and gravel will not be extracted in time for use in the first stages of building at Gilston, so suggesting it can simply be transported there by conveyor belt isn’t going to happen.
There were many concerns expressed by the audience: houses shake when lorries go past; St Albans Sand and Gravel had also extracted for years and the village had done its bit; we don’t need another lake; what about protected species – orchids and wildlife?; could we get funding to fight the cause from the National Farmers’ Union or BBC’s Country File?; this is the only open land in a line north from London to Harlow – it is a vital gap to preserve the separation; people choose to live here because it is agricultural; and that Tudor deer parks are at risk. Another concern is that there is insufficient water and Tarmac would need huge amounts. There were suggestions that people should use their votes to remove councillors who want the quarry and that there could be demonstrations of opposition at Hertfordshire County Council and Tarmac’s AGM.
There were pleas at the end for funds to be donated to the Stop the Quarry website and for expertise – particularly for a hydro-geologist. You can make a donation by visiting the Go Fund Me Page.
The main message from Julie Marson was that she will welcome individual concerns and that everyone should respond.
Next steps would be keep: to up the pressure by following online, attending any relevant HCC meetings with placards, donate to the Stop the Quarry fund and keep writing to Julie Marson to urge her on in Parliament.
Julia Davies
Photo courtesy of Julia DaviesPhoto courtesy of John HickfordPhoto courtesy of John Hickford
FURTHER INFORMATION You can complete a Draft Plan Response Form online or a printable version of the form can be opened in Word by clicking HERE.
Alternatively, contact the Minerals and Waste Planning Policy Team directly: MineralsandWaste@hertfordshire.gov.uk 01992 556227 (office hours are 9am – 5pm)
Minerals and Waste Planning Policy Team Spatial Planning Unit (CHN216) Hertfordshire County Council County Hall Pegs Lane Hertford SG13 8DN
Slipper Swaps are returning to Hertfordshire Libraries.
This enables older people and those at increased risk of having trips/falls to swap their tired and worn-out slippers for a NEW pair of special anti-slip ones for FREE.
There will also be the opportunity to find out information about staying safe and warm this winter with advice from occupational therapists and community partners. Small Acts of Kindness are also providing Warm in Winter gift bags and visitors will be able to browse memory boxes from our reminiscence collections.
There is no need to book! Just go along to participating libraries between 10am and 1pm, and library staff will be there to help/direct you as needed. Dates and locations are as follows:
The consultation period for the proposed quarry in Stanstead Abbotts has been extended by one month to 31st October. The Parish Council is organising a public meeting to enable villagers to hear more about what is being proposed, what the Council’s concerns are and to give some guidance about providing an effective response.
We are hoping to get our local MP along to the meeting. Once we have her availability, we will publicise the date. In any case, it will be 2 or 3 weeks’ time.
Cllr Julia Witting Stanstead Abbotts Parish Council
I was delighted to have a chat with workers from Suffolk Brick & Stone Cleaning Company Limited who were doing such a fantastic job of cleaning the war memorial at Great Amwell.
Image courtesy of Rev’d Sarah Forrest
Great Amwell Parish Council arranged for the war memorial to be cleaned and it is looking brilliant. Thank you to the council and the workers for doing such a great job.
As many of you will be aware, Hertfordshire County Council is reviewing its Minerals and Waste Local Plan documents.
The Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2040, which is currently at consultation stage, proposes a ‘mineral allocation site’ (quarry) in the Stanstead Abbotts area. As the impact of this new plan will be significant, we encourage all residents to take a careful look at the plan and make sure you have your say before the end of the consultation period.
THE CONSULTATION STAGE END DATE HAS BEEN DELAYED TO 31st OCTOBER 2022. IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO, PLEASE DO ENSURE THAT YOUR OPINION IS HEARD.
It is with great sadness that we received the news that Her Majesty the Queen died at Balmoral Castle on the afternoon of 8th September 2022. Our deepest sympathies go out to her family.
Her Majesty the Queen devoted her life to this nation and was a symbol of unity and strength for us all. For many of us Her Majesty the Queen was the only monarch we have known and her experience and wisdom will be sorely missed in the years ahead.
Many of you will want to share your own messages and a book of condolence will be available in the Ashlea Room at Stanstead Abbotts Parish Hall from Friday afternoon (opening times will be confirmed shortly).
The Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire has an online book of condolence available online here and East Herts District Council will have a book of condolence available from Friday afternoon at the council offices in Hertford and Bishops Stortford .
I hope that we can all find comfort in the memory of this great woman who united a nation as our Queen for more than 70 years.
A book of condolence is available for the residents of Stanstead Abbotts and Stanstead St Margaret’s in the Ashlea Room in Stanstead Abbotts Parish Hall. You can visit at the following times:
Over the next few days, our churches will be open for quiet prayer and reflection as we mourn the death of our late Queen Elizabeth II.
St John the Baptist, Great Amwell: Saturday 10th, 10am to 4pm Sunday 11th, 10am to 4pm
St Mary the Virgin, St Margarets: Saturday 10th, 10–11.30am and 2–4pm Sunday 11th, 10–11.30am.
St Andrew’s, Stanstead Abbotts: Saturday 10th, 10am to 4pm Sunday 11th, 10am to 4pm
**UPDATE**
St Andrew’s Church will be OPEN as a place of quiet reflection from 10am to 4pm on Friday 16th, Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th September. A book of condolences is available to sign.
Services remembering our late Queen Elizabeth II are happening on Sunday 18th: 9am at St John the Baptist, Great Amwell 10.30am at St Andrew’s, Stanstead Abbotts 10.30am at St Mary’s Church, St Margarets 6pm at St James’s Church, Stanstead Abbotts
The Three Villages 