March 2006 - Water Shortages Likely Consequence of Sand Quarries

With hosepipe bans and other indicators of water shortage likely during the summer, we face the extraordinary prospect of no longer being able to take tap water for granted. Sutton & East Surrey Water have reported that for the first time since records began in 1910 an observation borehole which they use to monitor water supply, is now dry! A major threat to this basic resource is the extensive sand quarrying throughout Mole Valley. At Shagbrook in Buckland, for example, up to 1.6 million gallons of potential drinking water are consumed every day to transport and wash sand before being pumped as waste into the River Mole.

Besides being a waste of an increasingly scarce natural resource, this water wastage is devastating nearby Reigate Heath. Hydrology reports commissioned by CAMEL show that the water table beneath this Site of Special Scientific Interest has dropped by some 6.5 metres. The Environment Agency has strongly condemned further mineral extraction until the water table has recovered. This could take many, many years, even if quarrying stopped today .Besides reducing the water supply, quarrying and the consequential landfill activities within Mole Valley threaten to contaminate such water as remains.
A quarry in The Common Field between Betchworth and Brockham could cause further damage to the water table and the River Mole by drawing down contaminated water from landfill sites at Pebble Hill. The water supply, the ecology of the River Mole and Surrey landscape are all under threat from short term planning, driven by unrealistic government targets. The consequences will scar Mole Valley for ever.

Surrey County Council's Executive Committee will be considering the mineral development proposals at a meeting on 14 March. Thereafter will be a 6 week consultation period and we urge everyone to support Camel's attempts to preserve the Mole Valley countryside. At the AGM of the Brockham Green Village Society, on 14th March in the Middle Street Cricket Pavilion, Professor Seeley will be discussing the impact of mineral extraction in the area and what it could mean to every one of us.

For further information please contact: Nick Caddick, 07970 884003.

Parish Magazine Betchworth - February 2006

22 February 2005 - PRESS RELEASE -- For immediate release

Surrey County Council give CAMEL the hump

Residents in Mole Valley have submitted, ahead of the deadline of 28 February, its technical report to Surrey County Council on the proposed Surrey Minerals Development Framework. If the framework is approved, it could lead to well over 100 acres of countryside between Dorking and Reigate being turned into open cast sand mines and landfill sites.

The report has been produced by residents under the banner of the Campaign Against Mineral Extraction and Landfill (CAMEL) and its planning and environmental advisors RPS plc. Covering the key designated areas at Betchworth Common Field and Shagbrook, Reigate Heath, the report highlights a number of key issues which Surrey County Council need to consider properly.

Critical to the proposed development is the County Council's apparent disregard for guidelines set by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) which is at the heart of the mineral extraction plan. According to the guidelines, Surrey County Council should produce detailed plans based on sound research to determine the full effects and environmental impacts. A recent meeting with officers of the Council indicated that the Council were unlikely to prepare such detailed plans in the future.

The County Council's reluctance to commission accurate and detailed reports for the Betchworth and Shagbrook could also be in contravention of statue law on the environment, which requires a full environmental impact assessment to be made taking into consideration the short and long term impact of their proposals.

Additionally, the report highlights the finite nature of the reserves which are clearly not conducive to a sustainable environmental policy.

CAMEL said, "The report, covering Betchworth and Shagbrook, is extensive and hard hitting and underlines the inappropriate action of the Council in making such environmentally devastating decisions without proper and full assessments."
"The disgrace is that it has been up to the residents from Dorking to Reigate to take the Council to task by spending considerable money and resource to fight ill considered and potentially illegal proposals."

Final comments from residents must be received by Surrey County Council before February 28th and can be sent to: Minerals Local Plan Team, Surrey County Council, County Hall, Kingston-upon-Thames KT1 2DY

Notes to editors

Picture Caption:
Left to right: Nick Snook (Deputy Chairman CAMEL Shagbrook), William Snook, Peter Shakeshaft (Chairman CAMEL), Paul Tanner (Deputy Chairman CAMEL Betchworth), Corky Gormly and 'Mo' the camel

CAMEL
Campaign Against Mineral Extraction and Landfill is the action group formed by residents of Betchworth, Buckland and Brockham to resist plans by Surrey County Council to extract sand from open cast mines at the Common Field, Betchworth (OS Ref: TQ 207 501) and Shagbrook, Buckland (OS Ref: TQ 232 504). It is a voluntary organisation and comprises a range of professionals living and working in the area.
Peter Shakeshaft, Chairman
Paul Tanner, Deputy Chairman Betchworth Common Field
Nicholas Snook, Deputy Chairman Shagbrook, Buckland
David Evans, Treasurer

RPS Group plc
RPS Group have been commissioned by CAMEL to prepare technical reports against proposed open cast sand mines at Betchworth and Buckland. The company is Europe's leading environmental consultancy, providing advice in respect of development planning, transport planning, environmental assessment, risk management, water services, oil and gas expertise, health and safety and environmental engineering.

For further information please contact:
Nick Caddick 07970 884003

10 February 2005 - PLEASE ATTEND A PUBLIC MEETING

TO BE HELD ON SUNDAY, 20TH FEBRUARY AT REIGATE GRAMMAR SCHOOL 7PM.

As we move into the final stages of this public consultation period we are offer you an opportunity to meet and discuss what we have done so far as well as CAMEL's role in the next stages of the process.

We are assured that we have rattled some cages and as such we intend to make our presence known just as long as our beautiful countryside is under threat.

There is a certain amount of complacency regarding Shagbrook. Some people are saying that it will never happen! Let me assure you all now that unless we keep up the pressure it will.

This is not just about valueless silica sand but 2.2 million tons of soft (building) sand! Hanson's are actively seeking to mine this. A full report on behalf of CAMEL by RPS Plc, (the largest environmental consultancy in Europe), is in final stages of preparation. RPS are obviously on top of the list for every commercial operator in this field. Thanks to your generous donations we were able to retain them sometime ago. Sorry commercial operators!

The financial rewards are huge for them and they will pursue this opportunity doggedly. The Government clearly want more housing in Surrey, soft sand is needed desperately. Unless we make a loud noise about Reigate Heath, they will get their sand!

THERE IS STILL TIME FOR YOU TO WRITE. !

In a highly unusual move by Surrey County Council, last week, officers from the Minerals and Waste team attended a meeting with members of the CAMEL committee. In a four and a half hour meeting, during which time the Council’s officers were given tours of the sites at the Common Field, Betchworth and Shagbrook, Reigate Heath, the concerns of CAMEL were highlighted showing, at first hand, the real impact of such proposed developments.

In a frank and positive exchange, the Council’s officers were receptive to the views expressed by CAMEL and CAMEL’s planning and environmental advisors, RPS plc, officers acknowledged inaccuracies in the preliminary assessments, but refused requests for those assessments to be corrected.

Officers also indicated that no on-site testing or investigation would be undertaken during the formulation of the County’s Mineral Development Framework; instead, this would be left to developers who may wish to implement the plan, following its formal adoption by County. CAMEL expressed astonishment that such a far-reaching Framework would therefore be founded upon the superficial, desktop investigations upon which the preliminary assessments were based and which had already been shown to be flawed.

Surrey County Council confirmed that around 1,000 letters had been received in protest and with days left until the deadline at the end of the month, we are urging everyone from Dorking to Reigate who concerned by the proposed development to write now. For minutes of this meeting, please click link below.

Minutes of Meeting between SCC RPS and CAMEL 28th January 2005

14 January 2005 - The Reigate Society Walk

The Reigate Society walk over Reigate Heath and Shagbrook on Sunday 9th January has been well reported in the Surrey Mirror & Advertiser newspapers. We counted nearly 200 people by the end of the walk. An excellent and informative commentary was given by Professor David Goode, BSc, FSA and Dennis Turner BSc, FSA.

An outstanding success, thank you Claudia Payne (Chairman of The Reigate Society) for organising such an excellent event.

2nd January 2005 - Organised Campaigning

A far cry from the original deadline of November 1st last year it was still little time to get an organised campaign together, but we did it thanks to you. We were the last area to be consulted on the PMZ plans. Some areas have had up to a year to prepare! The SCC has clearly stated that the reaction here was the most voracious and unexpected, so why then were we the last to be contacted? They were not going to consult Reigate & Banstead at all! We hope you agree CAMEL has made a difference.

Such a difference in fact, that Surrey County Council has requested a meeting. The CAMEL technical team will be meeting David Lamb (Surrey County Council Team Leader Minerals & Waste Policy & Planning), on the Shagbrook & Betchworth sites at the end of January. This will be an important meeting and we believe the only ones to have taken place at any of the other PMZ sites. This is surely an indication of their reaction to such an unprecedented protest from all of you out there.

Those of you that have been involved deserve a huge vote of thanks. Most of us have families and work for a living, I will always be amazed at the time and effort you have given up. We need more volunteers now!

October 2004 - Organised Campaigning

Surrey County Council has proposed the Shagbrook site directly adjacent to Reigate Heath Nature Reserve (SSSI) for potential mineral extraction under their potential mineral zone plans encapsulated in the Surrey Minerals Development Framework. The proposed site lies a 1/2 mile from the end of Reigate High Street. This would be a complete disaster for the area.

What are the implications for Reigate Heath Nature Reserve? The Heath itself contains some of the finest soft sand available. If Shagbrook becomes a sandpit how long will The Heath be able to maintain its SSSI status? What would happen then?

But people in Leigh, Reigate, Woodhatch and Redhill will all be affected by these plans and the probability of landfill looms. It is rumoured that this could be in the form of an industrial waste sorting site including landfill. This raises the prospect of intense industrial activity in a rural area stretching probably for over 25 years ahead.