SOMERFORD AND BRERETON PARISH COUNCILS HAVE ORGANISED A PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS A SAND QUARRY PLANNING APPLICATION AT SOMERFORD FARM
THE MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE AT:
PAVILION C, SOMERFORD PARK FARM, CW12 4SL
MONDAY 3RD JULY – 7.30 P.M.
ALL ARE WELCOME!
Background Information
Application to carry out mineral working and associated development at
Somerford Farm, Holmes Chapel Road, Somerford, CW12 4SN
A planning application, reference number 23/1928W, has been submitted to Cheshire East Borough Council for:
“The extraction of industrial sand, pipeline to transfer mineral to the existing Bent Farm Plant Site, associated ancillary development, retention of the Bent Farm Plant Site and progressive restoration at land at Somerford Farm, Congleton, Cheshire”
The applicant is Sibelco UK Limited, Brookside Hall, Congleton Road, Sandbach, Cheshire, CW11 4TF.
The planning application details and documents may be accessed on the Cheshire East Borough Council Planning Portal here:
The current last date for submitting comments is 15th July, the application is listed for hearing by the Strategic Planning Board on 23rd August and the decision target date is 11th September.
The arrangements proposed in the application are that a quarry will be established on agricultural land to the west of Somerford Farm and that mined sand will be transported as a slurry by an underground pipeline to the current Bent Farm site where it will be processed. The pipeline will cross under the public highway in two locations (A534 Sandbach Road and Wallhill Lane) but otherwise will be located on agricultural land. The Somerford Quarry will cover 35 hectares in total.
The Somerford Parish Council, in whose area the proposed quarry is situate, and the Brereton Parish Council, have both hosted meetings addressed by representatives of Sibelco during the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) scoping opinion process. That process was approved by the planning authority on 26th September 2022.
There was considerable public concern expressed at those meetings and subsequently, particularly regarding the perceived potential for hazardous dust to be created by the works, as well as plans for the re-instatement of the site following the completion of quarrying.
This public meeting has been organised to enable residents to hear about and discuss the issues which may be raised by the operation of sand quarrying at this location.
Representatives of the applicant have been invited to attend.
