“It’s a bit like MPs’ expenses. The people in power knew things weren’t right. But they didn’t do enough quickly enough.” David Cameron 08/07/11
Democracy in action ?
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Approaching 150 people turned up last night for the latest RAGE meeting – approximately 1/3 of these were attending a meeting regarding the quarries for the first time. The audience were taken through several key aspects of the latest Montcliffe application - The arguments were much the same as for Pilkington Quarry and some of the supporting evidence originated from the appeal, for which BHEAG had Rule 6 status :- eg1 Rather than being a shortage of crushed rick, there is approximately 33 years supply in the North West landbank. eg2 Rather than a c 10% increase on HGV traffic vs the 2010 Chorley Old Road survey, we calculate the uplift of c 70% when Montcliffe is operational (c 300% when Pilkingon 2 is included) Will Georges Lane and the Junction with Chorley Road be able to withstand this volume of HGVs ? A full copy of the presentation is available Here . The full traffic survey can be found Here The meeting was also told of the latest position regarding the Judicial Review on Pilkington 2- Judge Justice Charles ruled that there were arguable grounds for a Judicial Review, taking the litigation to the next stage. A copy of the court order can be found Here Armstrong’s have submitted a new planning application, 86368/11 , effectively to extend the extraction at Montcliffe Quarry until 2020, with a further two years for restoration. The officers report for the previous application, in 2005, makes interesting reading : OFFICERS REPORT (2006) It was passed by committee, the officer commenting , ” The Applicant has given assurances that the Council will not be approached with further delays and it is recommended that the proposed extension of time be approved on this basis.”
“The Applicant has stated that there is currently 950,000 tonnes of un-worked minerals in the quarry. A concern expressed by Horwich Town Council and local residents is that a further extension of time may be required by the Applicant in 2011 and this would result in continued delay to the restoration of the quarry. The Applicant has responded to confirm that the reserve left in the quarry has been analysed relative to the anticipated level of sales from the site and is confident that the additional time period requested will be satisfactory.” Some five years of extraction later, and now there is approximately 1.4 million tonnes !! Traffic remains a major concern, the quarries have been largely dormant the last few years. 240 movements a day were permitted by the Pilkington Quarry extension – currently in the Judicial Review process, which was approved on the basis that Montcliffe Quarry was ceasing extraction. (It is understood the previous operators considered extraction was no longer commercially viable.) This application requests a further 80 movements a day. That is more than one HGV every two minutes at the junction of Georges Lane and Chorley Road. On a Saturday it is an HGV every minute due to reduced times and there is nothing to stop every single HGV passing through Horwich Town Centre. Just over 100 HGVs a day currently use Chorley road, so the number of HGVs will effectively increase c 400% (Even if only Montcliffe is considered the increase is above the 30% threshold required to trigger a full transport impact assesment). Montcliffe Quarry is currently on a long term lease before the freehold is returned to Bolton Council, towards the end of this century. Bolton Council (and therefore the community) benefit from a proportion of income from all minerals extracted from Montcliffe Quarry.
As the current planning permission for Montcliffe is due to expire, a new planning application is expected imminently. In order to update the communityRAGE have scheduled a meeting at Horwich RMI, Wednesday 29 June 2011, 7pm for a 7.30 pm start. http://www.rivingtonrage.org/ The previous operators of Montcliffe were given permission to extend extraction until 2011, on the agreement that they would not ask for a further extension. Very clear ? Permission for a third quarry – “Pilkington extension” was granted on the basis that Montcliffe would be restored by 2012 . The Pilkington Extension was granted even though Manchester Council has stated that such an extension would never be permitted. Very clear ? You can be forgiven for being confused. The existing Pilkington Quarry, in 1999 and 2002 was given permission to extract until 2007, providing restoration was completed within 12 months after this. The two permissions to extend the extraction period until 2042 were recently quashed. Very clear ? Despite the restoration plan being rejected by elected councillors in 2009, Bolton Council officers argue a restoration scheme has been approved which will be completed in 2042 – ie 21 years rather than the agreed 1 year and despite the quary being potentially contaminated. Slightly confused ? One of the reasons the restoration plan, combined with the extension was rejected by Planning Committee, was the increase in the number of HGVs. Incredibly the re-submitted plan, which was approved and is currently subject to Judicial Review, allows for even more HGvs than the rejected proposal. More confused ? Historically the local Horwich Liberal Democrat council have always been against further development in the area – understanding many of the issues. It will be interesting to see how the newly elected Labour Ward councillors for the area respond
On 6 April 2011, the claim form, statement of facts and grounds and bundle of evidence as lodged with the Court and served on the Council and Armstrongs, with respect to the planning consent for the Pilkington Quarry Extension. 84065/10. Bolton Council and Armstrongs now have 21 days to file an acknowledgment of service and summary grounds of defence. The bundle can be found here http://db.tt/XAFD3Bj If you havent yet been able to make a donation and would like to help, contributions can be made to Rivington Against Greenbelt Exploitation sort 77 02 10
ac 24740960
You can contribute via Paypal at:
 .
Residents close to Montcliffe have been complaining about a big white fence around the quarry for some time. The enlarged fence jumps out from the hill and can be clearly be seen as a big white scar accross the hill from Blackrod. The good news is that GCN Ltd (David Armstrong) has agreed to paint it green. The four groups have written a letter to Bolton Council, challenging the fact that the council believe it is lawful and they cannot do anything about it. An update regarding the next stage of the Judicial review re the Pilkington Extension will be available in the next few days. MPG have asked for a screening opinion reagrding extending extraction at Montcliffe for a futher 9 years, rather than transforming it into a Country Park, this year, as Horwich residents were originally promised. http://www.planning.bolton.gov.uk/Documents/93201_1.pdf The four local action groups and RAGE, have written to Bolton Council objecting to the limitations of the Environmental Statement (including the fact there are NO restrictions on HGV movements) and reminding the Council that the previous extension of time was only awarded on the basis that no further requests delaying the restoration would be made. Meanwhile the recent fundrasing camapign, to fight the Judicial Review on the Pilkington Quarry Extension has currently raised in excess of £3,000 and donations continue to flow. If you havent yet been able to make a donation. Contributions can be made to Rivington Against Greenbelt Exploitation sort 77 02 10
ac 24740960
You can contribute via Paypal at:
A copy of the petition may be downloaded here: Quarry-Petition
Approaching 250 people packed the RAGE meeting last night. Recent documents have been identified detailing proposals for a 1,000,000 tonne per year recycling centre in Montcliffe Quarry, requiring 400 HGV movements per day. The document further details 4,500,000 tonnes of infill waste opportunity in Pilkington Quarry – and the extension, together with further recycling. The GMGU (GM waste development plan) concludes 6.34 ” that these sites have been included within the calculations for future waste management requirements” adding “ A final decision on the inclusion of these sites will be made during the development of the next stage of the Waste Plan” It is expected that this “next stage” will be in the public towards the end of Aril 2011.
Previously the GMGU had indicated it would not consider Pilkington because extraction was not complete and therefore not ready for infill restoration. This changed earlier this year when MPG wrote to Bolton Council confirming that extraction had ceased permanently (almost). Legal representatives continue work on the Judicial Review concerning the extension to pilkington Quarry – granted earlier this year. Meanwhile GCN Ltd (registered at Armstrong’s Chorley new Road site) are asking for a 9 year extension to quarrying activities at Montcliffe even though it was due to be transformed into a country park at the end of this year. http://www.planning.bolton.gov.uk/Documents/93201_1.pdf It appears that Bolton Council have the quarry on long term lease and will become the freeholders of Montcliffe towards 2090, and executive have been tasked with maintaining an income stream from the asset.
Broken promises ? The Rage presentation can be found here PRESENTATION
Quashing this consent is critically important in protecting Horwich and the surrounding area, and potentially stopping a 1,000,000 tonne per year recycling centre (massively bigger than the Armstrong site on Chorley New Road) on our doorstep.
Our legal costs in fighting the permissions has been in the region of£20,000 so far, funded by a small group of people, with four legal challenges. We have won the first three (one application went to appeal but was withdrawn, two permissions have been quashed.) Bolton Council have agreed to refund the legal costs but the money is not yet in the bank. Simply – we have a cash flow problem.
We need to raise £4,500 in the next week, in order to continue pursuing the Judicial Review, which has very strict timescale constraints. If everyone reading this contributes £20, we will raise sufficient funds. If we do not raise the money we all loose. Contributions can be made to Rivington Against Greenbelt Exploitation sort 77 02 10
ac 24740960
You can contribute via Paypal at:
.
Alternatively you can write a cheque, payable to Rage and send to:
5/6 Montcliffe Cottages, Georges Lane, Horwich, BL6 6RS
The next public meeting is March 22nd @7.30pm at the Horwich RMI Club, Ramsbottom Rd, as thousands of leaflets are distributed around Horwich ( if you can help contact RAGE at ragequarry@gmail.com ) For more information on the background, click quarry summary
520690 – Response to letter before claim Due to legal reasons we do not wish to offer further commentary at this time. A large fence has been erected on the skyline around Montcliffe Quarry The great plan to turn Rivington into a mountain of waste continues. Thanks to information provided following the last public meeting, we will be able to present the full facts.
This is not just about the Plan to Replace Winter Hill With a Mountain of Rubbish, this is about Horwich, Blackrod, Heaton and Lostock. The next public meeting is March 22nd @7.30pm at the Horwich RMI Club, Ramsbottom Rd, as thousands of leaflets are distributed around Horwich ( if you can help contact RAGE at ragequarry@gmail.com ) We will be asking for your help. Please bring along friends, family or colleagues who may be interested. Download your window poster here (green or white paper) Now in PDF format GREEN WHITE The following letter has been sent to Bolton Council, asking them to agree that the consent for the extension to Pilkington Quarry was unlawful and that they quash the consent. Multiple gounds for its unlawfulness have been detailed. A response has been requested within fourteen days. Bolton Council LBA (84065) 24.2.11 The two Pilkington Quarry consents challenged via the Judicial Review process last year have now been quashed. Due to overwhelming public interest & concern the next meeting will be on March 22nd @7.30pm at the Horwich RMI Club, Ramsbottom Rd, Horwich
Since the last public meeting of RAGE(Rivington Against Greenbelt Exploitation) numerous people have come forward to provide information. The result – the dots have been joined. We have been able to answer the various questions raised at the last meeting. The affect to Winter Hill and Horwich more damaging than you could ever imagine :-
The residents of Horwich were promised :- Pilkington Quarry would be restored by 2008 – a broken promise The extension to Pilkington Quarry would never be permitted – a broken promise Montcliffe Quarry would be made a country park by 2012 – a promise in the breaking. The residents of Horwich believed that:- Bolton Council and the Planning Committee would make an Objective appraisal of any planning application – legal letters, failed appeals, quashed consents paint a different picture. What do YOU think?
Thanks to information provided following the last public meeting, we will be able to present the full facts. People close to the issues have been shocked ! This is not just about the Plan to Replace Winter Hill With a Mountain of Rubbish, this is about Horwich, Blackrod, Heaton and Lostock. The next public meeting is March 22nd @7.30pm at the Horwich RMI Club, Ramsbottom Rd, as thousands of leaflets are distributed around Horwich ( if you can help contact RAGE at ragequarry@gmail.com ) We will be asking for your help. Please bring along friends, family or colleagues who may be interested. Download your window poster here (green or white paper) Now in PDF format GREEN WHITE sourced from http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/250/250/City-news-in-250-words-Friday-4-February_16914.asp Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA) is considering closing six of its 25 recycling centres in a bid to cut £1m from its budget. Two of the sites facing closure include Leicester Road in Salford and Black Horse Street in Blackrod. Those hoping to use Rivington – if it changes to a massive recycling centre may be disappointed – there will be that many lorries coming down George’s Lane, and Chorley Road , that it may not be safe – the sad truth is we don’t know because the required Traffic Impact Assessment has been ignored, during the application to extend the quarry. The possible advantage of Rivington as a massive recycle centre is that you could take the family around the entrance to the west Pennine Moors after – for a walk round the refuse centre / landfill / restoration works (or maybe you cant because all the public footpaths will be gone- or diverted miles away) - and reminisce what might have been if local people and Bolton Councillors had fully considered the proposal – RAGE:- Rivington Against Greenbelt Exploitation Safe recycling ! ? http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/feb/04/forestry-wrong-politics The Forestry Commission – along with England’s forests – is under threat. Caroline Lucas Though they are essential for our physical and spiritual wellbeing – locking away carbon, sustaining thousands of species, including our own, and providing pleasure and recreation – trees are under attack from all sides. We have known for years of the depredations of logging companies in the developing world, and governments have wrung their hands and pledged action. Yet tropical and temperate rainforests worldwide are still being despoiled for development or to provide cheap meat, oils and timber, or even to make room for supposedly “environmental” biofuels. Nor is it only the natural environment that suffers; local people have been ruthlessly pushed out of the way, losing their livelihoods, having their way of life trashed. Those who resist often face intimidation or even murder. In Britain, we have tended to view this as an international problem. Though we have much less forest cover than most of the rest of Europe, a large proportion of we do have has generally been in the hands of fairly responsible landowners, conservation charities or ourselves – or rather, held on our behalf by the government through the Forestry Commission. But this too is under threat, with the coalition government now consulting on “options” for selling off most or all of the public forest estate. Some woods, they claim, will be protected by giving them to charities, while the more profitable commercial forests are sold to private companies. But the coalition can’t say how charities would continue to fund the care of these woods, or the cost of providing facilities for visitors and access for leisure once the cross-subsidy from the more profitable forests is removed. Nor should the coalition be trusted: they have already gone back on pledges to ensure that the Forestry Commission’s ongoing restoration of ancient woodlands that have been planted with conifers – probably the most important environmental restoration project in the UK – will be continued. It’s also a local problem. Trees in streets and gardens have always been under threat from developers and from excessive fears about insurance and safety, but now councils such as Islington are using the excuse of cuts to slash tree protection. Even small changes in policy can have a major impact – for example, ensuring that trees that have to be removed are replanted with the same species, so that majestic limes or plane trees are not replaced with small, ornamental or non-native varieties. All these attacks are not co-ordinated – but they are cross-party. The Forestry Commission sell-off is being pushed by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Islington is run by Labour. And successive Labour and Tory governments have failed to act to stop the illegal trade in timber. Forestry is an example of what is wrong with our politics. The vast majority of people want to see forests here and abroad protected. But instead of action, they get rhetoric, spin and broken promises. Governments have pledged to try and tackle illegal logging, but have left a massive loophole, whereby trading in illegally harvested timber is not itself illegal. It’s like saying that it’s illegal to import heroin if you’re caught at the borders, but not once you are inside the UK. This is the loophole that my private members bill on illegal logging – which is due to have its second reading in parliament on Friday – would seek to plug. The bill, which has cross-party support, would make it far harder to sell timber from endangered species or from illegal logging. Those taking part in this trade could be caught not only at customs, as now, but when trying to sell to companies within the UK. In one way, my bill shouldn’t be necessary. The coalition pledged last year to introduce just such a measure, but then went back on their promise – presumably because of lobbying from timber or construction firms, or because of their growing obsession with “deregulation”. Indeed, the commitment to build on existing EU legislation to ensure that those throughout the supply chain are held to account on illegal timber was the first of the coalition’s so-called “green” pledges to collapse. My hope is that they will take this opportunity to think again, and not try to block the bill from becoming law by This isn’t the only test this week for parliament in reflecting the public will. I went to the debate this Wednesday on the Forestry Commission sell-off, where ministers have once again tried to dress up asset-stripping under the cover of the “big society”. The truth is, our forests are for sale because of a toxic combination of anti-state dogma and the need to raise cash fast, any way they can. But if politics as usual is failing, people power can still work. The Save our Forests petition run by 38 Degrees has now gathered over 440,000 supporters. People are joining the Woodland Trust in unprecedented numbers. This is the kind of reaction that MPs respect. So if you are as angry about what they are doing to the trees here and abroad as I am – then sign the petition, join the campaign and if even this doesn’t work, be ready for the call to mass outside parliament. After all, when the wood came to Dunsinane, it was the end of Macbeth. If David Cameron doesn’t listen to the people, he could soon be just as unpopular. |
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