November 2007 - Public Meeting in Hordle

Public Meeting November 2007

Desmond Swayne MP speaking at the HERITAGE public meeting November 2007

On Friday, 23 November HERITAGE called a meeting to discuss with local people in Hordle and Everton the HCC plans to turn Downton Manor, Leagreen and Yeatton Farms into a single 326 acre gravel pit – Greater Downton.   The meeting was addressed by Desmond Swayne MP, representatives of Hordle Parish Council and New Forest District Councils as well as members of the HERITAGE Committee.   Hampshire County Council was not present.

HERITAGE has taken professional advice on the proposals contained in the HCC Consultation Document shared this with the 200 plus audience at the WI Hall, discussed the implications of the proposal as well as identifying glaring gaps and errors in the proposed plan.

HERITAGE expressed its strong disagreement with the HCC request that local people choose between the Greater Downton and Ashley sites.   As Desmond Swayne said in his address this is a blatent attempt by HCC to drive a wedge between communities.   HERITAGE requested all local people to refuse to respond to this request but to pass their views to HCC on the fact that the report is biased and gravel is not needed from either Greater Downton or Ashley as the figures contained in the HCC report are wrong.   The figures contained in the current report will lead to over supply and that if there is a need for additional gravel it can come from Roeshot Hill, which has in excess of 7 million tonnes of gravel (not the 3 million tonnes stated in the report), has  better transport access and will have considerably less impact on local residents with more prudent use of resources.

Desmond Swayne in his rejection of the proposals for Downton and Ashley highlighted these points, and expressed his anger at the refusal of HCC to meet with residents claiming that such public meetings were not useful. He said “you should be outraged that they refused to come to your meeting – they are your servants not your masters”. Counsellors from Hordle Parish and New Forest District Council also rejected the proposals.   In fact NFDC documents on their vision for the next 20 years, whilst expressing their concern over gravel, provide ample reason to reject this proposal.   In addition NFDC consider the road network in the area to be below standard. Their Core Strategy Development document  states “………parts of the Plan Area  have relatively poor or limited access to the trunk and strategic road network. Many of the  environmentally sensitive parts of the District are already covered by lorry restrictions (those for the northern New Forest are due to be implemented shortly). The numbers of heavy goods vehicles using inappropriate minor roads remains a concern……………

Residents expressed serious concerns at the impact of a gravel pit in an area with a high water table where surplus water willl find its way one way or another to the coast.   Given the already parlous state of our ever eroding coastline this gravel pit could exacerbate the situation.

October 2007 - Downton Manor Farm Public Inquiry

Email from: Angela Mead (Heritage Chairman)and Maureen Connelly (Heritage Secretary)
To: richard.read@hants.gov.uk
Sent: Monday, 15 October, 2007 7:07:46 AM
Subject: Consultation on draft Hampshire Minerals Plan

Dear Mr Read,

We see from the Hants website that the consultation period on the Draft Hampshire Minerals Plan will commence on October 31st and close on the 12th of December. As 6 weeks is a very short time to acquaint local residents with the details of the proposal which will impact the lives of each and every resident, it would be helpful and in the spirit of consultation, if you could advise on the following as soon as possible.

When can we expect the promised map, which hopefully will define what we have been given to understand to be “Greater Downton” in the proposals? We would hope that it would be available to us well before the October 31st date.
HERITAGE formally requests that a public meeting be held by HCC for the residents of Milford, Downton, Everton and Hordle. The residents of these communities we understand are likely to be affected by the proposals and will undoubtedly have questions for your officials. Obviously timing is important and we suggest the meeting during week commencing November 19th.
We draw your attention to the fact that HCC held a public meeting for Milford residents during the consultation phase of the last M&W Plan in the early 1990’s, in Milford Church Hall. Regrettably the hall was too small last time and certainly will be far too small this time. DAMAGE advise us they would be happy to arrange facilities for the meeting to be held at Shorefield Country Park, subject to availability on the agreed date.
HERITAGE will wish to make representations at the public meeting.
Please advise whether there will be a formal registration procedure for a resident wishing to speak at the public meeting.
To whom in HCC, should residents wishing to write expressing their views on the proposals, address their letter to and the final date for receipt?
We would appreciate an early response to the above.

Angela Meads and Maureen Connelly, on behalf HERITAGE

September 2007 - Downton Manor Farm Public Inquiry

Downton Farm Public Inquiry…the appeal by New Milton Sand & Ballast to allow gravel extraction and landfill, was rejected by the Secretary of State on September 20th! The DAMAGE Committee are very pleased with the result and see it as a vindication of the hard fought battle at the Inquiry held in April, with the support of residents and businesses, which contributed to the substantial funding required for their representation. New Milton Sand & Ballast a subsidiary of Hanson plc, recently acquired by the giant German based conglomerate Heidelberg Cement, will have to think again!

Regrettably however although the battle is hard won, the war is far from over. It has been made clear to DAMAGE in recent weeks, that the new HCC Draft Minerals & Waste Plan, if approved by Councillors to pass to the consultation phase due to start in October, contains another imminent threat to the Forest Coastal Belt, to the West of Lymington.

Listed in the document as “Preferred Sites” at the request of the minerals industry and/or local landowners, are "DOWNTON, DOWNTON OR ASHLEY MANOR FARM, NEW MILTON".
DAMAGE does not consider the A337 Coastal Belt for mineral extraction and landfill, as compatible activities with the local residential and tourism infrastructure. An HCC official when asked for clarification on the above sites stated that “DOWNTON”, is an area which can be categorised as “GREATER DOWNTON”, which will include Downton, Yeatton and Lea Green Farms, totalling 139 hectares or 343 acres…see map attached. Kings and Batchley farms to the East of Hordle and north of Everton, are also likely to be targets for the future also once extraction is established in the area.

DAMAGE will fight this proposal which would in effect creating the next "Avon Valley" on the A337 within 3 miles to the West of the centre of Lymington, an area dependant on tourism, with a high rural population density, thus blighting the quality of life of residents and local economy of the area for at least the next 50 years. The tragedy of which, is that once approved as a “Preferred Site” to meet the government imposed targets, the farms will be exploited for minerals, despite the undisputed fact that the requirement for gravel in the Forest Area has been running at 60% of the Government target apportionment for the area for some time.

The drive to have Preferred Site status approved for minerals extraction in the A337 Coastal Belt by the minerals industry and landowners, whilst there are already identified Preferred Sites in the County yet to be exploited and for which, the minerals industry have yet to apply for planning, should be opposed by HCC, not encouraged. New apportionment figures are due out from Government, which will undoubtedly lower the requirement from the Forest Area, which DAMAGE believes will negate the need for any additional “Preferred Sites” to the year 2020.

DAMAGE draws the attention of our elected representatives of the NFDC, HCC and Parliament, to these proposals and asks that they take whatever steps possible to prevent this catastrophe for the area and the people that they represent. We call on them to bring pressure to bear on those officials behind this long running threat to our area and have it killed outright, once and for all.

The DAMAGE Committee will be actively engaged in the HCC Draft Plan consultative process, representing those local residents and businesses that oppose the proposals to include sites in the Forest Coastal Belt.

James Sey, on behalf of the Committee of DAMAGE

(DAMAGE www.dam-age.co.uk is the "sister" pressure group to HERITAGE, principally fighting the Downton Manor Farm plans, but working with HERITAGE to oppose ALL plans in this area for gravel extraction)

September 2007 - Downton Manor Farm Public Inquiry

The Secretary of State has delayed her decision on the Inquiry and requested further representations from the parties to the Public Inquiry, on how the subsequently approved Hampshire Minerals and Waste Development Core Planning Strategy, might influence her decision on the Appeal by New Milton Sand & Ballast.  DAMAGE has made observations on the Strategy, highlighting the sections requiring minerals sites to be located sensitively, such that they reduce road transport and referring to a number of traffic related concerns in the Strategy, that the granting of the Appeal would be in conflict with.  Also highlighted is the decline in the need for gravel, recycling and the preferred sites available yet to be exploited, together with the impacts on Biodiversity and Quality of Life for local residents.

The NFDC, HERITAGE and Milford Parish Council have also made representations in response to the letter.

Despite the HCC submissions at the Strategy Inquiry that there was a sufficient minerals landbank to 2016, HCC are currently finalising a draft Minerals and Waste Plan which is due to go to public consultation in October, which may well include Downton, Yeatton and/or Lea Green Farms as Preferred Sites for mineral extraction and landfill.  In a recent meeting with an HCC representative, attended by DAMAGE, HERITAGE and Milford Parish Council, our fears were confirmed by the admission that if only one of these farms were approved for development, the rest would follow.

Given that it is acknowledged by HCC and the Minerals Industry that the main market for gravel from South West Hampshire is East Dorset and that the Appellant has opened a new gravel quarry at Hurn Court Farm by Bournemouth Airport with reserves of 1.8million tonnes and excellent highway access, there is no need for additional gravel sites other than for commercial gain.

DAMAGE is again fighting to keep local farms out of the Preferred Site listing in the Draft Plan, which if developed for minerals and landfill would blight the Milford, Downton, Everton and Hordle area for decades to come, if not permanently.  DAMAGE is also aware that the NFDC rezoned the Appellants Caird Avenue site for housing and commercial development.  The Appellant supported the rezoning and is in discussions with HCC on a relocation of their operations.  Approval of one of our local farms could provide an attractive alternative site for the Hansen plc owned New Milton Sand and Ballast Company.

DAMAGE funded professional representation at the Public Inquiry which cost in excess of £40,000, raised by public donations from residents and local business.  We need further funding to support the ongoing battle and donations are again being sought, we have to win every battle, the Appellant has only to win once.

James Sey, on behalf of the Committee of DAMAGE

(DAMAGE www.dam-age.co.uk is the "sister" pressure group to HERITAGE, principally fighting the Downton Manor Farm plans, but working with HERITAGE to oppose ALL plans in this area for gravel extraction)

June 2007
Government back the Hampshire County Council's strategy to find reserves of gravel elswhere in the New Forest

HERITAGE welcomes the news that the The Government have backed the Hampshire County Council's strategy to find reserves of gravel elswhere in the New Forest (as reported in the Lymington Times Saturday June 9th 2007) The planning inquiry verdict means that the county will aim to supply the Forest's contribution of 5.5m tonnes of gravel until 2016 from two isolated locations near Ringwood. Local sites at Hordle, Everton, Downton, Walkford and Roeshot will remain as back-up instead of one or more being considered for imminent quarrying. Now that there is no preference for these sites, even if New Milton Sand And Ballast put in an application, it should mean that they will be turned down.

January 14th 2007
HORDLE AND EVERTON RESIDENTS ON THE MARCH!

The residents of Hordle and Everton were on the march earlier this month. A group of about 80 residents walked an ancient byway to take a closer look at the farms proposed for gravel extraction.
Full report click here

Information Update 1 - 12th December 2007

Heritage will start to provide regular updates on its website from January 2007. This first update is being sent by email to those who have lodged their address with us. We would be grateful if it can be shared with your families, neighbours and friends locally.

1. HCC have confirmed that Batchley and Kings Farms have been withdrawn from the list of sites for investigation. This does not resolve the threat of widespread gravel extraction from the other sites in the vicinity (ie Yeatton, Leagreen and Downton Manor Farms) which remain on the list. It does however indicate that the strength of your objections have already had an impact and highlights the need to continue to object to the other sites.

2. Angela Meads and Maureen Connelly had a productive meeting with two HCC officials (Melissa Locke and Trevor Badeley).
- Heritage is now listed as an interest group with Hampshire County Council
- the Strategy will be publicly reviewed by an Inspector in January. Heritage does not have a place at the table, but Hordle Parish Council does. (See below). The Strategy identifies two new sites to meet immediate gravel needs over the next few years. It is possible that New Milton Sand & Ballast will object to the proposed sites of Plumley Wood and Bleak Hill on commercial grounds as neither is an NMSB site. Clearly they will be arguing for NMSB sites, in particular Yeatton and Lea Green farms. Something we will be arguing strongly against.
- at the same time as the strategy is being reviewed HCC is finalising the issues and options review of all sites for investigation to finalise its implementation plan. This review will result in a shortlist of new preferred sites. There is no public consultation prior to decision on this shortlist . This means that if any of the sites in the Hordle Parish area remain on the list they will be part of a shortlist and only then will there be local consultation. Shortlisting will be based on both environmental/ other issues as well as local opinion. It is vital that you make your views known to HCC prior to the final shortlisting of preferred sites. Whilst we will have an opportunity to object on various occasions if our sites are shortlisted we will be in a much more vulnerable position if these sites become preferred.
- as of 12 December HCC had received 1258 objection letters to the various sites in the Hordle Parish area, with more being received daily. These letters have all been registered and the issues noted. This means that more than 50 percent of the households in the Parish have objected.

3. Heritage is requesting a meeting with Hordle Parish Council to ask that the Parish Council will represent the strongly expressed views of the local residents who elect them when they are invited to speak at the public inspection in January. Heritage propose to attend the meeting as observers. We will report back to you on our meeting with the Parish Council.

4. What to do now: Encourage those who have not yet done so to write to HCC objecting to the threat of gravel pits, with the potential for these to become rubbish pits, around our villages and close to our school and church. Write individual letters to HCC about each site and not only the site nearest to you. If you look at areas where there are gravel is already being extracted they are virtually all areas where one gravel pit leads to another, and another. We must prevent this happening in and around our Parish.

30th November 2006

PACKED HALL FOR SECOND HERITAGE PUBLIC MEETING

HERITAGE held a second public meeting for the residents of Hordle and Everton the New Milton Memorial Hall in Whitefield Road, New Milton on Thursday 30th November and over 250 people attended. Angela Meads, the Chairman of HERITAGE started the meeting by introducing the official committee of HERITAGE, guest speakers from WRAGE and DAMAGE, and Desmond Swayne MP.

There were presentations from WRAGE and DAMAGE, the Walkford and Milford protest groups who shared their experiences so far and their plans for future action. In particular DAMAGE stressed the need for Hordle and Everton residents to protest strongly against any gravel extraction from Downton, Yeatton and Leagreen farms because of the immense amounts of dust that will blow across the two villages on the south westerly prevailing winds. In addition the lorry movements will massively increase on the A337, and because traffic may try to avoid that road, Everton Road and Hordle Lane could become “rat runs” for local and through traffic.

Meeting being addressed by Desmond Swayne MP

There is increasing concern about the health hazards from the dust from gravel extraction and from waste landfill. Laurence Prestage, HERITAGE communications officer, read out a letter received from a resident which explained that his 12 year old daughter, who suffers from asthma, does not now use 5 boxes of tissues a week since the family moved from Andrew Lane in New Milton, just to the north of the New Milton gravel depot, to Sky End Lane in Hordle. “She is down to one box of tissues per week” the father says “just a coincidence? I think not!”

Ken Collinge, a HERITAGE committee member, gave a presentation on the ancient rights of way that exist across the farms and the abundance of wildlife that can be seen. He will be leading a “Residents Walk” on Sunday January 14th when many local residents, and their guests, will have a mass walk on one of the paths on one of the targeted farms proposed for gravel extraction.

The final guest speaker was Desmond Swayne, MP for New Forest East. He gave a rousing address that expressed how delighted he was to see such overwhelming support for the HERITAGE campaign and pledged that he would raise awareness of the issues and concerns of residents in Hordle and Everton in the highest places possible. “Of course we need gravel extraction sites” he said ”but they must be suitable for that purpose. In this unique part of Britain“ Mr Swayne continued “we are the custodians of the newest and smallest National Park in the country. Do they really imagine that they can dig a moat round it, fill it with rubbish, overrun it with hundreds of lorries, and still maintain an area of outstanding natural beauty?”

The audience were invited to ask questions and make comments and several contributions were related to the preservation of the abundance of wildlife that has existed in this area for centuries, many are rare species of animals and plant life. One resident was particularly vocal about his objection to the noise and dust created by the gravel working on Caird Avenue which is not even a fully working gravel pit. He said he lives near the depot and the disturbance goes on for much longer than is permitted by law – what would it be like near a fully operational gravel extraction area?

Councillor Alan Rice was in the audience and said that one of the most positive actions that can be taken to support a group such as HERITAGE is a full turn out of residents at any Public Inquiry where the proposals are to be discussed.

Angela Meads, the HERITAGE chairman said “The residents attending this meeting were asked to contribute to a fighting fund to cover campaign expenses and their generosity meant that we received nearly £500 in cash tonight. We are expecting many more donations by cheque and they should be made out to HERITAGE and sent to The Treasurer, HERITAGE, 234 Everton Road, Everton, SO41 0HE”.

8th November 2006

A public meeting was held in the Pavilion Hall in Hordle when the background to the formation of HERITAGE was presented. Jim Sey of DAMAGE told the meeting of their experiences and successes and various members of the public asked relevant questions and there was some good advice put forward to people who had had experience of this sort of campaign before. It was decided to form a committee to manage the campaign and this committee will meet within 2 weeks.

About 230 residents managed to cram in to a hall that seats 50 - there was standing room only, and there were at least another 100 folks outside who could not get in - our apologies to those people. But the good news is that there is to be another public meeting on Thursday 30th November at the New Milton Memorial Hall, Whitefield Road, New Milton see map here. If you did not get in before please come this time - if you did get in to this weeks meeting, please come again to this new one as we will be putting forward some new plans and hearing from different speakers - and we need to demonstrate once again the strength of feeling in this community.