26 September 2012
Shailesh Vara MP has expressed his concerns at the progress of work at the Stonehill Quarry, near Wansford.
Mr Vara has received complaints from residents on a number of matters, including the level of noise and dust, and the hours of operation. Moreover, work is being carried out to extract limestone even though the 2003 planning permission, granted by East Northamptonshire District Council, does not authorise it.
Mr Vara has written to Mrs Gillian Beasley, chief executive of Peterborough City Council, as Wansford is part of her remit, and also to Dr Paul Blantern, chief executive of Northamptonshire County Council, as the quarry is near Yarwell in Northamptonshire. Mr Vara has asked for a review of the case and for the issues raised by residents to be addressed, as well as asking for a meeting between residents and staff from the planning departments.
Mr Vara said:
“Along with many others I have serious concerns about how this work is progressing. The original planning permission does not allow for the extraction of limestone and there appears little control on hours of operation, levels of noise, dust and so on. I have written to the chief executives of both Peterborough City Council and Northamptonshire Country Council and asked them to look into the case. In the meantime I have been in touch with the Planning Department at Peterborough Council and appreciate their agreeing to a meeting. I hope that Northamptonshire County Council will also agree to a meeting with the community”.
Mr David Stuart-Mogg, from Wansford, added:
“In the past Peterborough City Council has described surrounding villages as ‘the jewels in Peterborough’s crown’. Sadly words appear to be the easier option when it comes to protecting these valuable assets. We are indeed fortunate to have an MP such as Mr. Vara to fight our corner when our elected local authorities appear unable, or unwilling, to accept ownership of their statutory responsibilities”.
Mr Vara has received complaints from residents on a number of matters, including the level of noise and dust, and the hours of operation. Moreover, work is being carried out to extract limestone even though the 2003 planning permission, granted by East Northamptonshire District Council, does not authorise it.
Mr Vara has written to Mrs Gillian Beasley, chief executive of Peterborough City Council, as Wansford is part of her remit, and also to Dr Paul Blantern, chief executive of Northamptonshire County Council, as the quarry is near Yarwell in Northamptonshire. Mr Vara has asked for a review of the case and for the issues raised by residents to be addressed, as well as asking for a meeting between residents and staff from the planning departments.
Mr Vara said:
“Along with many others I have serious concerns about how this work is progressing. The original planning permission does not allow for the extraction of limestone and there appears little control on hours of operation, levels of noise, dust and so on. I have written to the chief executives of both Peterborough City Council and Northamptonshire Country Council and asked them to look into the case. In the meantime I have been in touch with the Planning Department at Peterborough Council and appreciate their agreeing to a meeting. I hope that Northamptonshire County Council will also agree to a meeting with the community”.
Mr David Stuart-Mogg, from Wansford, added:
“In the past Peterborough City Council has described surrounding villages as ‘the jewels in Peterborough’s crown’. Sadly words appear to be the easier option when it comes to protecting these valuable assets. We are indeed fortunate to have an MP such as Mr. Vara to fight our corner when our elected local authorities appear unable, or unwilling, to accept ownership of their statutory responsibilities”.
