LAND AT YENNADON QUARRY, IRON MINE LANE, DOUSLAND, YELVERTON, PL20 6NA

Transcription

1 LAND AT YENNADON QUARRY, IRON MINE LANE, DOUSLAND, YELVERTON, PL20 6NA CONSULTATION WITH REGARD TO FUTURE PLANNING APPLICATION FOR THE PROPOSED PHASED RESTORATION SCHEME & EXTENSION TO YENNADON QUARRY STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF YENNADON STONE LIMITED November st Floor, 3 Silverdown Office Park, Fair Oak Close, Clyst Honiton, Exeter, Devon, EX5 2UX United Kingdom t + 44 (0) f + 44 (0) e: info@pclplanning.co.uk

2 Contents 1. Introduction Page No Details of Public Consultation Activities Page No. 6 Public Exhibition Attendance and Outcomes Correspondence with Commoners 3. Conclusions Page No. 13 Appendix A - Site Location Plan Appendix B - Invitation Letters Appendix C - Plan showing leaflet drop area Appendix D - Public posters Appendix E - Copy of leaflet Appendix F - Display Boards Appendix G - Summary of Completed comment forms Appendix H - Letter to Commoners David Lobban 2 04/11/2013

3 LAND AT YENNADON QUARRY, IRON MINE LANE, DOUSLAND, YELVERTON, PL20 6NA CONSULTATION WITH REGARD TO FUTURE PLANNING APPLICATION FOR THE PROPOSED PHASED RESTORATION SCHEME & EXTENSION TO YENNADON QUARRY STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT 1. Introduction 1.1 This Statement of Community Involvement relates to land adjacent to the existing Yennadon Quarry at Iron Mine Lane, Dousland, Yelverton, PL20 6NA. It has been prepared following a range of consultations, including a public exhibition with regard to proposals for restoration and extension to the working area at Yennadon Quarry. The proposed extension area is part of a registered common and as a consequence this statement also includes a record of correspondence with the Commoners. 1.2 The proposals to extend the working area of the quarry do not involve changes to the primary planning consent which granted planning permission until 2025 and controls working hours, rate of extraction, vehicle movements etc. 1.3 This Statement needs to be read in conjunction with the wide range of supporting documents forming the Environmental Statement (ES) and other documentation and drawings that form part of the planning application. The preparation of the application has been led by the John Grimes Partnership with the assistance of a number of other consultancies. have provided appropriate input to the ES and also have a wide range of experience in devising and facilitating community engagement programmes associated with major planning applications. David Lobban 3 04/11/2013

4 1.4 Discussion and correspondence with regard to the impact of the proposals on the rights of commoners has been led by Foot Anstey Solicitors with the assistance of Maristow Estate on behalf of the landowner. (Walkhampton Trust). 1.5 A site location plan is attached Appendix A. The plan below is taken from the public exhibition and highlights the extent of the proposals in the wider context of the area. Plan prepared by John Grimes Partnership for Public Exhibition 1.6 This document sets out the activities undertaken by, John Grimes Partnership, Yennadon Stone Limited and Foot Anstey Solicitors to provide the local community and commoners with an insight into proposals that form the basis of the planning application and the opportunity to influence aspects of the proposals. David Lobban 4 04/11/2013

5 1.7 This statement meets the principles for public consultation set out in the Dartmoor National Park Authority s Local Development Framework Statement for Community Involvement, as well as the policies set out in the Government s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Paragraphs inclusive of the NPPF deal with Pre-application engagement and front loading, the broad thrust of which encourages applicants to engage with the local community before submitting their applications. 1.8 As well as the community engagement process set out in this statement the application proposals have also been the subject of discussion from an early stage with appropriate officers of the Dartmoor National Park Authority. The Authority has also provided information with regard to the appropriate persons and organisations to be involved in the consultations. 1.9 The application has been prepared in the light of both existing and emerging development plan policies In Spring 2013 the proposals reached a level of certainty where it was considered appropriate to brief Burrator Parish Council of the developing proposals and also seek the Parish Councils advice on the form of the consultation, venue and timing. Members were provided with a briefing pack and the meeting took place on 28 March The Parish Council provided helpful feedback with regard to the proposed display material, particularly the illustration showing the sequential enlargement and reinstatement of the quarry and also on the benefits of a guided site visit as a means of better understanding the existing operations and the impact of the proposals This statement sets out the arrangements for the public consultation event and the site visit and the results and responses from the event and also the subsequent correspondence with the effected commoners. David Lobban 5 04/11/2013

6 2 Details of Public Consultation Activities Public Exhibition 2.1 A public exhibition was held in the Burrator Inn Function Room on 23 April 2013 between the hours of 2pm to 7pm with a guided tour of the quarry on the morning of Saturday 27 th April This latter element was by appointment only. 2.2 Prior to the exhibition, posters were placed on a range of notice boards within the Parish of Burrator. Information on the location of these and the custodians was supplied by the Clerk to Burrator Parish Council. Copies of the letters are attached as Appendix B and the poster as Appendix D 2.3 Leaflets were distributed to the whole of Dousland as indicated on the attached plan (See Appendix C). A copy of the leaflet is attached as Appendix E. 2.4 In addition letters plus the explanatory were sent to a range of organisations that have a specific interest in the area/dartmoor. These were Devon Orienteering Club The local representative of the British Horse Society Geoffrey Cox QC MP Dartmoor Preservation Association/Friends of Dartmoor Dartmoor Society Meavy and Yennadon Commoners Association Ramblers Association 2.5 The landowner and the DNPA were also notified of the exhibition. The exhibition was held during the afternoon and early evening of 23 rd April David Lobban 6 04/11/2013

7 2.6 The quarry owners Dave Wallace and Mark Hufton along with the following members of the development team were on hand to explain the proposals and answer questions: Andrea Robertson and Rod Smith, John Grimes Partnership; David Lobban, PCL Planning; Sarah Candlin, Acorn Ecology; Peter Ashford, Ian Sharland Limited and Richard Payne, Peter Swann & Associates. The specialisms covered were ecology, geology, civil engineering, noise and vibration, landscape, ecology and planning. 2.7 The public exhibition comprised a series of display boards covering the following main points: The site s location and context; The proposals including phasing; The Environmental Impact Assessment Process; Socio/Economic impacts Pollution Emissions and Noise. Ecology and Nature Conservation Archaeology Traffic and Transport Ground Condition and Water Resources Landscape and Visual Impact 2.8 A full copy of the display board information is attached as Appendix F. 2.9 A copy of the draft Environmental Statement (ES) was available to read along with copies of individual chapters to the ES. In addition a number of copies of the briefing material, previously made available to Parish Councillors, were available to take away. Additionally all information was made available to view and download on the Yennadon Stone web site ( Attendance and Outcomes 2.10 The public event was fairly well-attended, with 108 persons signing the register. It is possible that during busy periods several other persons may David Lobban 7 04/11/2013

8 have attended who did not sign the register. The majority of attendees were local residents Comment forms were provided for all attendees with the option of either completing them at the exhibition or returning them via post. The closing date for postal returns was set at 7 th May A range of discussions were held around the exhibition boards. Experience indicates that these discussions often raise matters/issues not covered on the comment forms consequently team members were asked to identify the key points arising from these discussions. These were as follows: Noise sound of men swearing and some equipment (riddler and pecker) Mainly from properties to the Northwest question as to whether or not the bund could be extended. Also cattle grid. Noise empty lorries passing over potholes Dust some blame the quarry some North Africa but interesting observation from some that farm vehicles with trailers put up more dust Is compensation available to the commoners for loss of grazing Why do we need it this is Dartmoor this is another example on concreting over the countryside Can t it be extended in a different direction Need more detail on phasing of the various elements Speeding vehicles acknowledged that this is staff from quarry, the school run and prison officers Employees not local Visual impact 2.13 A large number (60) completed forms were received. A full tabulated breakdown is attached as Appendix G. Set out below are a number of key points. 54 of the respondees were local residents and 50% were regular visitors to Yennadon Down The questions and questionnaire responses are set out below with commentary where appropriate. David Lobban 8 04/11/2013

9 Question Option No. Comment Do you agree with Planning Policies that encourage developers to use local natural building materials to ensure developments are in-keeping with the surrounding built environment? Do you agree with the proposal to infill the depleted parts of the quarry in a phased manner concurrently with phased excavation of the extension? Do you believe the reinstatement should be as per the surrounding moorland or are there opportunities to consider other options; i.e. tree planting, car park, others (please specify)? Do you agree that preserving employment should be a paramount consideration, especially in the current economic climate? Do you agree that Yennadon Stone Ltd and its employees contribute economically to the region? Do the current operations inconvenience you? In general do you support the proposed development? Additional comments were invited and are addressed below Yes 47 No 7 Don t 3 Know Left Blank 3 Yes 51 No 6 Don t 1 Know Left Blank 2 Yes 48 See #2.17 below with regard to detailed No 1 suggestions Don t 2 Know Left Blank 9 Yes 37 No 16 Don t 5 Know Left Blank 2 Yes 32 No 8 Don t 18 Know Left Blank 2 Yes 20 This was accompanied No 32 with a follow up question If so, in what way? Don t 0 Responses to this are Know set out at #2.19 below Left Blank 8 Yes 35 No 14 Don t 2 Know Left Blank 9 David Lobban 9 04/11/2013

10 2.15 In overall terms the majority of respondees support the proposals with only 14 being specifically against them. It is also noted that a much higher proportion support the use of local stone than specific quarrying proposals Whilst slightly more than 50% acknowledged the economic benefits derived from the quarrying operations a slightly higher proportion felt that the preservation of local jobs was important With regard to reinstatement the overwhelming view was that it should be as per the surrounding moorland and this was reinforced via the additional written comments some of which also stressed the point that it should not be used to provide a car park (4). Other options/points raised were; it may be appropriate to seek other uses, consider sporting uses for the redundant site, tree planting (5), landfill and retain part of quarry as new habitat geology feature (2) The question of inconvenience arising from the existing operation identified the highest level of concern over particular aspects of quarrying operations with a third of respondees identifying some form of issue. A specific follow up question was asked in regard of this matter which elicited 29 responses. Whilst this is at odds with the 20 who identified a primary concern clearly there are a number of persons who are tolerant of the quarrying operation whilst recognising that there are matters that need to be properly managed/controlled The following points were raised by this follow up question Speed of employee s vehicles Dust from track (4) (Depending on wind direction) Noise (16) (machinery) (Heavy traffic) (Depending on wind direction) (Early Start) (Radio) (Saturday working) (Oct March) (Lorries on unmetalled section of road) (Bad language) Heavy Lorries using minor roads (6) Visual impact (2) Vibration from passing lorries David Lobban 10 04/11/2013

11 Mud on roads 2.20 A guided quarry tour was held on the morning of 27 th April 2013 and attended by 16 persons. The purpose of the tour was to be able to demonstrate on the site the current working constraints and the need for the proposed extension are but also to show the quarry operation in progress i.e. what we do and how we do it. This included a demonstration of various pieces of equipment in operation Those who attended were broadly supportive of the quarry extension and why it was needed During the exhibition one local resident who is a near neighbour expressed concerns about noise under particular circumstances. This may be due to wind direction, the level being worked in the quarry or a particular piece of equipment. An offer has been made for a personal tour of the quarry to listen to various pieces of plant in operation in order to identify the offending piece(s) of equipment. To date this offer has not been followed up. Commoners Consultations 2.23 The proposed quarry extension falls within Yennadon Common and a specific invitation was sent to the Meavy and Yennadon Commoners Association. As indicated above discussion was held during the public exhibition which highlighted the commoner s concerns over the potential adverse impact on grazing Subsequent to the event and as part of the parallel process of preparing an application for consent to carry out works on common land informal discussions were held with Yennadon Commoners Association. The force of these discussions were the subject of a subsequent letter dated 8 th October 2013 (See Appendix H) outlining a modest programme of grazing enhancements and associated remediation. No response has been received to date David Lobban 11 04/11/2013

12 David Lobban 12 04/11/2013

13 3 Conclusions 3.1 It is a requirement of the Localism Act which achieved Royal Assent in November 2011 for developers to consult local communities before submitting planning applications for certain developments. This gives local people a chance to comment when there is still a genuine scope to make changes or modifications to the proposals. 3.2 This is something that is felt to be very important to the applicants as responsible quarry operators with a business of long standing within the community. 3.3 Those who attended the exhibition were able to view a wide range of plans setting out the key aspects of the emerging proposals and associated. Consultants were on hand throughout the entire process to assist attendees and answer any questions they may have had. 3.4 The level of support for the continued operation of the quarry within the context of the regime set by the existing planning permission is very high but with a strong caveat with regard to reinstatement. 3.5 There is little doubt that the main issue identified from the consultations is noise arising from a number of sources but with the prime ones being plant/operations and vehicle movements. 3.6 Whilst the questionnaire does not provide sufficient information for a detailed analysis of the source or particular issues a number of pointers are apparent from the discussion held between members of the consultancy team and local residents. These are: Wind direction, particularly when coming from the east to south quarter The working level within the quarry The use of a piece of equipment known as a pecker. This has been replaced with a rotating screener. David Lobban 13 04/11/2013

14 3.7 Discussion of these issues during the exhibition gave rise to suggestion for an extension to the bund, now reflected in the landscape proposals and a suggestion that working of the higher levels should be avoided on Saturday mornings. With regard to this latter element it is not an issue at present but it is acknowledge that it is a matter that will require consideration in the future. 3.8 The applicant has responded to the key issues raised by respondents and we believe that the community engagement exercise meets current guidance which encourages applicants to engage with local residents at an early stage. David Lobban 14 04/11/2013