Hampshire County Council

Regulatory Committee Item 7

9 April 2003

Site Visit in respect of R.M.C. Aggregates Southern: Continued processing of sand and gravel, Land at Manor Farm, Timsbury (TVSM00008/2)

Report of the Chief Executive and the Chief Planning Adviser to the Committee

Contact: John Priest - Ext: 7336 and Peter Chadwick - Ext: 6728

1. Summary

1.1 The Committee undertook a site visit on 24 March 2003 to consider the

R.M.C. Aggregates Southern application in the light of local concerns.

2. Introduction

2.1 At the site visit the Committee met with a Member of Test Valley Borough

Council and the adjoining landowner. The comments of those present are

outlined in the ensuing paragraphs. A copy of the briefing note for the site visit is attached as an appendix to this report.

3. Comments of the Chief Planning Adviser to the Committee

3.1 The Chief Planning Adviser outlined the planning history of the site, extending back to the 1960s. Mineral extraction was now almost completed.

3.2 The permission was reviewed in 1997, when a condition was included to provide an end date of 31 December 2003. Whilst there was no current mineral extraction at Manor Farm, Timsbury, it was proposed to continue extraction from Kimbridge and that the sand and hoggin produced there be processed at the plant located at Manor Farm, Timsbury.

3.3 This activity would continue at Timsbury until 2008, with final gravel extraction, restoration and landscaping by 2010.

3.4 The Chief Planning Adviser drew attention to objections raised about noise from contractors' vehicles traversing the site, passing the property of a local resident, whose farm was split by the on-site access road and other objections from the owners of the adjacent land, regarding discoloured run-off water from the plant passing into adjacent land, part of which is an SSSI, and into the River Test.

3.5 Members also visited the tract of woodland adjacent to the processing plant. They inspected the track and the condition of the ground affected by the water run-off. A bund had been constructed between the plant and the track on the edge of the SSSI to stop the discoloured water seeping from the plant.

3.6 The Environment Agency had been requested to comment on the state of the land, and their reply had not been received at the time of the site visit.

4. Comments of the Local Resident

4.1 Members visited the access road adjacent to Lodge Farm. Mrs. French, Lodge Farm, outlined the problems caused by vehicles using the access road, and attempts to eliminate the noise by the use of ramps of various designs. Salient factors were the noise - particularly of empty vehicles bumping over the ramps; speeding lorries and the disturbance to horses grazing and being ridden in the vicinity of the activity.

4.2 Mrs. French acknowledged the co-operation of RMC in seeking to resolve the problems. She had recently erected close-boarded fencing aimed at reducing the noise.

4.3 Mrs. French confirmed her objections to the extension of use of the site.

5. Further comments of Chief Planning Adviser to the Regulatory Committee

5.1 The mineral processed at the site is from Kimbridge Quarry. The justification in terms of the need to retain the site to continue to process the remaining reserves from Kimbridge is established. The main issues are whether there are any adverse impacts for the local residents, particularly for Lodge Farm, and for adjoining land which is an SSSI, such that continued operation is unacceptable, and so overrides the need.

5.2 With regard to Lodge Farm, the main adverse impact is the lorry traffic using the access road. The continued operation of the site will prolong disturbance caused by these lorries travelling to and from the site. Measures have been taken by the applicant which are intended to mitigate this impact by achieving traffic calming, whilst avoiding increased noise from lorries travelling over speed humps. There will clearly be continued disturbance by extending the time, when the local residents had an expectation that the site had a finite life. However the issue is whether this disturbance is sufficient to warrant refusal of planning permission.

5.3 With regard to the impact on the SSSI woodland, there clearly have been incidents in the past of discoloured water flowing onto the SSSI, which is contrary to the planning condition. The issues are whether this has had a detrimental impact for the SSSI, and whether the measures taken by the applicant, in terms of the perimeter bund and drainage works at the plant site are satisfactory. The application has been held in abeyance to assess and monitor the site during the winter periods of high rainfall. In this regard the comments of English Nature and the Environment Agency (who have been monitoring the site) are important.

5.4 English Nature undertook a botanic survey last year which confirmed that the flooding of the wood, and sediment deposition from the gravel workings has not had a significant effect on the flora to date. However they consider that, in principle, there should be no sediment deposition into the SSSI from the site. The final views of English Nature on the suitability of the measures taken by the applicant are awaited.

5.5 The Environment Agency have been monitoring the site and further comments have been received after the Committee site visit. These are that the Environment Agency confirm they have no objections to the extension of time. They comment that the site perimeter earth bund adjacent to the SSSI woodland appears to be working sufficiently with any accumulated surface water being diverted to a sump from where it is pumped to the wash facility and ultimately to the settlement ponds. It is recommended that the earth bund be extended along the entire western flank of the site to preclude any future risk of surface water runoff from the site. The site settlement ponds are extensive and comprise a series of ponds linked together by pipework, flow between them is by gravity. The water levels this winter were high but did not result in overflows or surface water flooding. They also comment that they have seen no evidence of any pollution from the site since the bund has been installed.

5.6 The operation of the site, and water discharging from it, do not appear to have had an adverse impact on the adjoining SSSI . The bund and drainage works carried out by the applicant have been satisfactory, and they have confirmed that the extension to the bund recommended by the Environment Agency will be constructed this summer. Therefore it is considered that the continued operation of the site will not have an adverse impact for the SSSI provided that the bund and drainage works are monitored and maintained. This can be covered by condition.

5.7 There is noise from the operation of the processing plant which, whilst not being significant at the nearest houses, will be noticeable to fishermen and others in the vicinity to the site. It is not considered that the adverse impact would be such as to warrant refusal of planning permission.

5.8 In conclusion it is considered that there would not be any significant adverse impact for the adjacent SSSI, and that the adverse impacts of extending the period for local residents and locality are not sufficient to override the need for the continuation of the site to process mineral from Kimbridge Quarry.

Recommendation

That planning permission for continued processing of sand and gravel and continued extraction of sand and gravel at Manor Farm Timsbury (Application no: TVSM 00008/2) be granted , subject to the following conditions;


Time Limit

1. The extraction of sand and gravel and depositing of mineral waste shall cease

and the site be restored in accordance with the schemes approved under condition (11) by 31 December 2010, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Mineral Planning Authority.

Reason: To secure the satisfactory restoration of the site.

2. The importation of minerals for processing shall cease by 31 December 2008.

Reason: To secure the satisfactory restoration of the site.

Restriction on Imports

3. No material shall be brought to the site, other than minerals originating from

the Kimbridge Farm sand and gravel quarry, as approved under Application No. TVS 5386, supplemented by locally sourced land won aggregates. No marine aggregate shall be processed at or imported to the site.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity and to ensure the life of the operation is terminated by the end of 2010.

Access and Public Highway Protection

4. The only vehicular access to and from the site shall be by way of the existing quarry access road from Stockbridge Road, as shown on plan no. P4/486/1. No vehicle shall enter the public highway unless its wheels and chassis are clean.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety.

5. The surfacing of the site access shall be maintained in accordance with an approved maintenance regime until such time as it is no longer required for these operations.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity and highway safety.

6. Within 3 months of the date of this consent details of the traffic calming measures on the access road, and provision for monitoring their effectiveness shall be submitted to the Mineral Planning Authority for approval in writing. The measures shall be implemented as approved.

Reason: In the interests of amenity and safety.

Working Programme

7. Winning or working of minerals shall be carried out in accordance with the approved scheme of working.

Reason: To ensure the satisfactory working of the site.

Environmental Protection

8. No operations shall take place on the site except between the hours of 0700

and 1730 on Monday to Friday and 0700 and 1230 on Saturday. No operations shall take place on Saturday afternoon, Sunday or Bank holidays without the prior approval in writing of the Mineral Planning Authority.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

9. All vehicles, plant and machinery operated within the site shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturers' specification at all times, and shall be fitted with and use effective silencers.

Reason: To minimise noise disturbance from operations at the site.

10. The rubber and other noise reducing linings fitted to the washing, crushing, screening and loading plant and the existing acoustic enclosure of the plant shall be maintained in good order for the duration of the site's operation.

Reason: To minimise noise disturbance from operations at the site.

11. No water shall be discharged from the site to any river, stream, ditch or other watercourse beyond the boundaries of the site, and there shall be no discharge of silt laden water from the site into the River Test Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Reason: In order to prevent water pollution.

12. Any oil, fuel, lubricant or other potential pollutant shall be handled on the site in a manner as to prevent pollution of any watercourse or aquifer. Fuel or oil storage tanks shall be housed in an area with an impervious base surrounded by oil and fuel tight bund walls of sufficient height and construction. The bunded volume shall be capable of containing 110% of the volume of all the enclosed tanks and pipework and shall also enclose all fill and drain pipes, which shall vent downwards.

Reason: In order to avoid water pollution.

13. The site shall be restored progressively to woodland and a lake, as shown on the outline and detailed restoration plans (Drawing No. P4/486/4); the car park and facilities for fishermen included on the plan are not approved under this consent.

Reason: In order to ensure the satisfactory restoration of the site.

14. All plant, buildings, machinery, stockpiles, hardstandings and access roads shall be removed and the plant site restored, in accordance with the scheme required by condition (13), by 31 December 2010.

Reason: To ensure the satisfactory restoration of the site.

15. No soils shall be removed from stockpiles, respread or otherwise handled unless in a suitably dry and friable condition so as to avoid compaction; neither shall any of these operations take place between the months of October to April without the prior approval of the Mineral Planning Authority in writing.

Reason: To ensure satisfactory restoration of the site.

16. All planting and seeding shall be carried out in accordance with the detailed schemes approved under condition (13) and shall be maintained for a period of five years after completion of restoration. Any trees which within the maintenance period die, become diseased, damaged or are removed shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of the same size and species, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Mineral Planning Authority.

Reason: To ensure satisfactory restoration of the site.

After-Care

17. An after-care scheme, to provide for a five year period of after-care and requiring such steps as may be necessary to bring each phase of land restored under condition (13) to the required standard for amenity use, shall be submitted to the Mineral Planning Authority not later than one year from the approval of the detailed schemes under condition (13). The after-care scheme shall be implemented as approved.

Reason: To ensure satisfactory restoration of the site.

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