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STOP THE QUARRY

SAVE REIGATE HEATH

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There's little time - write before 28th February!

· The beauty and tranquillity of Reigate Heath is under threat.

· Reigate Heath is one of the country's few wetland heaths and a protected area (a Site of special Scientific Interest)

· Surrey County Council intend to extract over 2.2 million tonnes of sand from Shagbrook - an area of over 67 acres

· IF the quarry proposal goes through, the impact will be significant on Reigate Heath and the surrounding area:

· Noise, pollution, dust, water pollution
· Possible future landfill
· Fall in local house prices
· Destruction of an already damaged watertable and delicate ecological balance

Write your objection letter today!

It is vital that letters of objection are written now!

The extended deadline is 28th February. So Please write your letters of protest now. Letters have been sent by your MP Crispin Blunt, one of your local County Councillors, Susie Garnier, your local Council Reigate & Banstead and many, many others. CPRE (Campaign for the Protection of Rural England) and CAMEL are preparing technical objections for submission to the Surrey County Council.

The number of individual letters will be logged, so it is important that you ask anyone and everyone that is affected by these proposals to write, particularly any other family members or friends that want to save this beautiful area. The response so far from the Reigate area has been acknowledged by Surrey County Council and reported in the press as unprecedented and has made a difference. Surrey County Council have requested a meeting on site with CAMEL at the end of January and deadlines have been extended.

To help you compose your letter we have identified some key material issues that should be used. Surrey County Council require 'technical' arguments rather than those based on 'sentiment'. You may wish to use one or two of the following depending on the particular point of view you have.

  • Shagbrook adjoins Reigate Heath, a protected SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest). The impact of hydrology and possible further lowering of the water table which has declined in the last twenty years will undoubtedly harm the delicate eco-balance of the Heath and local nature reserve, affecting wildlife, ancient woodland and other vegetation. A full hydrological report for Shagbrook & Reigate Heath should be commissioned by the relevant authorities before a final decision is taken to include this zone.

  • Shagbrook is located in an Area of Greater Land Value, within the Metropolitan Green Belt just south of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The site is very open in character and visible from the North Downs Way AONB, National Trust land and other public access land. There are panoramic views across the site from local rights of way towards the AONB, which forms a backdrop to those views. Shagbrook is a huge contribution to the urban setting of Reigate and environs.

  • Increased recreational pressure on the Heath. Closure and diversion of pathways, and rights of way used for the past centuries and currently providing recreation for many Surrey residents and others who enjoy this part of the Surrey Countryside.

  • Silica sand currently identified on Shagbrook is uneconomical to quarry and expensive to process as compared to other purer sources, currently it is only finding a market in the toy industry for children's sandpits! The soft sand also identified on Shagbrook would require a completely new operation with new equipment which renders its proximity to Park Pit and the processing equipment within, irrelevant.

  • Landfill is the current 'restoration policy' for AGLV sites that lie within view of AONB as they have to be returned to 'agriculture'. The implications of this are self explanatory. A commercial waste re-cycling centre has been rumoured!

    Please write immediately quoting reference 'PMZ60 - Shagbrook' to:
    Roger Hargreaves
    Head of Planning
    Surrey County Council
    County Hall
    Kingston-Upon-Thames, KT1 2DY.

     

    RESEARCH

    Thanks to all the generous donations so far received we are able to cover the costs of The RPS Group site reports. We also have a dedicated team of researchers currently working on the individual site issues.

    In Shagbrooks' case Mr Bert Smith, ex Deputy Managing Director of British Industrial Sand is leading this research. We could not want for a better person who has a total understanding of The Sand Industry. It may depress a few of you to know that he was highly successful at what he did. He relishes the task of doing the same thing on the other side of the quarry bund! We have a small team of dedicated researchers but need more of you! This is especially important

    WE NEED HELP!

    We are currently looking for researchers. Please come forward if ...

  • you feel you can offer us a few hours of your time to walk the streets!

  • you feel you have anything to contribute. Contact info@sandactiongroup.com or nick@camel.org.uk

  • you feel you can offer us a few hours of your time to sleuth the Internet, dig out reports, and use your professional expertise to dig the sand where others can't.

  • Experts in hydrology would find a special place in our hearts.

     

    CAMEL - Campaign Against Mineral Extraction and Landfill

    CAMEL is the joint action group, supported by the Parish Councils, from Betchworth and Buckland
    seeking to STOP the development of quarries and landfill sites between Dorking and Reigate. For
    further information please visit the web site at http://www.camel.org.uk or call:
    Corky Gormly 01737 841641, Colin Stimpson 01737 842668 or Nick Caddick 01737 844599


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