Pledge to continue fight

MANY campaigners against Tarmac's proposals for a new quarry in Broom visited the exhibition at the village hall on Friday and Saturday.

The company had representatives on hand to answer questions that campaigners and villagers asked.

Detailed plans of the proposed new site were on display and how Tarmac would prepare it, taking care of such things as footpaths and one important area of architectural interest.

Visitors to the exhibition were also asked to fill in a book where they were encouraged to leave their comments. Most said they were concerned about noise and heavy lorries around the village.

"Tarmac put on a very well presented exhibition. We have no quarrel with Tarmac but with the landowners Whitbread estates who are more interested in making money than looking after the needs of the community," said Cllr Roger Baines, chairman of the campaign against the quarry.

"We will continue to fight this application with vigour."

Cllr Baines is also concerned about the number of lorries travelling from the current site.

He says lorries are meant to turn left from the exit and go towards the A1 but several turn right and head south.

Last week, he said, there was a spillage of gravel in Gipsy Lane in the village which could have caused a serious accident had a motorbike or car skidded on the road.

"I told the company about it and they accepted it had happened. But I am not going to act as an unpaid policeman and watch what they do. Apparently, lorries should have a cover on the back and in this case the cover wasn't tied down properly.

"It was an incident that shouldn't have happened and we certainly don't want it happening again, especially on a high speed road which is near the site of the proposed new quarry.

"I am not scaremongering but acting as a responsible district councillor.