NEWS: Minerals Local Plan – It’s time to have your say At its meeting today, #Gloucestershire County Council’s cabinet agreed to seek people’s views on an emerging draft policy, including options for potential new mineral sites which will form the Minerals Local Plan (2016 – 2030). As the Minerals Planning Authority (MPA), the county council is responsible for preparing the Minerals Local Plan (MLP), which once adopted, will provide a framework against which planning and other minerals-related decisions will be made. The council is also required to outline Mineral Safeguarding Areas (MSAs). A MSA ensures that any planned work on a site does not prevent minerals from being extracted, and where appropriate, to make sure that the minerals are removed before developments take place. The consultation document puts forward potential options and emerging draft policies for safeguarding each of the main mineral resources in the county: Limestone, Sandstone, Sand and Gravel, Clay and Coal. The council is also responsible for maintaining the supply of mineral resource in its area. In Gloucestershire this means a ten year supply of crushed rock and seven years for sand and gravel. Currently in the county, there are not enough permitted reserves. Therefore, 18 options for potential sites are identified in the consultation document. These include areas for the future extraction of crushed rock aggregates (four in the Forest of Dean and four in the Cotswolds) and ten site options for sand and gravel (eight in the Cotswolds and two near Tewkesbury). These 18 include, sites submitted by the minerals industry and landowners and unworked parts of sites outlined in the existing 2003 MLP. The consultation also includes draft policies which will safeguard the county’s environment from the future impacts of minerals working. Councillor Will Windsor-Clive, cabinet member for Fire, Planning and Infrastructure said: “We have a responsibility in the county to safeguard and secure supplies of construction materials given the future housing needs. The options being put forward are by no means set in stone, therefore, it’s really important that we gather the views of as many people as possible.” The public consultation will run from Monday 23rd June and close 5pm on Monday 18th August. Further information on this consultation can be found on the county council’s website at: gloucestershire.gov.uk/extra/MLP-site-policy-options . Any questions relating to the consultation can be emailed to [email protected]
Posted on: Wed, 11 Jun 2014 12:47:14 +0000