Local community mustn’t be “steam rollered” by Dean Quarry plans

Posted on: 16th March 2015
DSC_0035 Dean resizedAndrew George talks to local residents at Dean Quarry

 

Following his visit to meet local residents who live in the vicinity of Dean Quarry yesterday, local MP, Andrew George, repeated his pledge to support local residents to stop the Dean Quarry plans and to protest against any attempt to “steam roller” the local community.

Mr George met leading members of the newly formed Campaign Against Dean Super Quarry and other residents of Rosenithon and visited the site to discuss local concerns.

Mr George has already made strong representations to those official bodies responsible for regulating the plans of Shire Oak, the company behind the Dean Quarry proposals – this includes Cornwall Council, the Marine Management Organisation, the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority.

As well as making clear his opposition to the scale of the proposals, Mr George has sought a five point concessions from the company before any applications are determined.  This includes the completion of an independent socio-economic impact study, the establishment of a Bond to cover liabilities and reparation work, the surrendering of mineral rights outside the ‘red line’ of the immediate quarry itself to a local Community Trust, conclusions to negotiations on the creation of a Community Fund where the community share in the turnover at the quarry and the scaling down of the marine developments, including the removal of the proposed breakwater.

In addition, Mr George has written to Cornwall Council to challenge their recent decisions to extend the mineral licence for the quarry since the designation of the Manacles area as a Marine Conservation Zone.

Mr George said, “I know that some local residents have expressed concern that negotiating ‘concessions’ with the company before the planning proposals have been determined, might imply a weakening of resolve to stop these plans.  However, I have emphasised that, there is no knowing whether the campaign to oppose the proposals will succeed or not.  It would be far better to negotiate and secure concessions from the company before determination rather than to seek to do so afterwards.

“In addition, it is not clear whether Cornwall Council had properly taken into account the recent designation of the Manacles as a Marine Conservation Zone when it rolled forward the mineral extraction permission for Dean Quarry recently.

“I will continue to monitor the situation closely and report back to the Parish Council and concerned local residents.”