Fresh concerns over flooding and lorry disruption due to HS2 quarry

Concerns were raised last year about the proposals put forward for land south of the A513, near Orgreave and Alrewas.

And on Monday members of Lichfield District Council's planning committee backed objections made by Alrewas and Fradley ward councillor Michael Wilcox after an amended application was returned for consultation.

Hundreds of residents have written to Staffordshire County Council, which will decide whether to approve or reject the application, to voice their opposition. Objectors are concerned about the proposal’s impact on the environment, farmland and Fradley Junction, as well as HGV movements causing noise, vibration and dust.

Councillor Wilcox highlighted flooding issues and a major gas installation in the area. He said: “There is still no clear evidence to suggest that this site is needed to supply HS2.

“Flooding is already a concern affecting many properties in Alrewas. And I know that residents have submitted a detailed technical submission to the county council in relation to the increased level of flooding of properties in Mill End Lane which will be caused by the dewatering discharge to the Pyford Brook.

“There is a major gas installation at Orgreave, which has three National Grid gas transmission high pressure gas pipelines that cross by the application site. We believe that this is potentially a major disaster waiting to happen if these pipes are in any way disturbed. And yet, we have still not seen any evidence that this has been addressed sufficiently by the applicant.

“The A38 closures associated with HS2 are likely to be at night time, so this will mean that the village of Kings Bromley will have to put up with HGVs all night long. The proposed 24-hour working is strongly opposed and goes against HS2 policy.

“It is unacceptable to expect local residents to have to put up with the constant noise all day long and then having no rest even through the night with lorries fully laden with materials. We cannot imagine what effect this disturbance will have on the habitat that will eventually be wiped out – or at best move away from our countryside.

“The local economic impact of this application being passed will be devastating for many new businesses and enterprises that have worked tirelessly over many years to make this area a magnet for tourists, walkers, cyclists and nature lovers from all over Staffordshire and further afield. The visual landscape from Fradley Junction and the canal will see a massive monstrosity of a three-storey building that will look so out of place against the backdrop of unspoilt countryside.”

Planning committee members backed Councillor Wilcox’s objections and called for them to be submitted to the county council as the district authority’s response.

Two previous bids to extract sand and gravel, put forward by Western Aggregates Ltd, were refused permission in 1987 and 1992 for reasons including loss of good quality agricultural land.

Cemex has said the need for the site now outweighs the concerns raised during previous applications however.

Further information on the need for the proposed works was submitted to Staffordshire County Council in March.

The document stated: “Existing sites in the area are supplying an existing market. The additional requirement for aggregate and concrete over and above that of the existing market for HS2 is significant.

“It is also crucial to the delivery of the project that sites are part of the dedicated supply chain for reasons of continuity of supply, capacity to supply the very large quantities required, and consistency of aggregate required for the concrete blends. HS2 also have a commitment to supply the project in the most sustainable way, so that means reducing vehicle movements to transport material as far as possible.

“The application submitted by Cemex does not propose out of hours working as standard. Controls are specified as part of the HS2 project for out of hours working.

“It is proposed that any deviation to the HS2 project standard working hours are agreed with the Local Authority as part of the Section 61 process. A Section 61 application is very detailed in terms of what is to be done on site including, working hours, the number of vehicle movements, type of plant in detail, the noise levels of item of plant. This is to minimise disruption and noise.”