Godalming Lib Dems Slam Quarry Proposals (South West Surrey Liberal Democrats)

South West Surrey Liberal Democrats <info@swsurreylibdems.org.uk>

Godalming Lib Dems Slam Quarry Proposals

September 3, 2006 12:00 AM

Sarah Di Caprio and Chris Slyfield near site of possible new quarry

Concerned local Lib Dems, Sarah Di Caprio and Cllr Chris Slyfield study plans for a possible new quarry

Proposals by Conservative Surrey County Council for Eashing Farm to be excavated for sand have been strongly criticised by Godalming Liberal Democrats.

Sarah Di Caprio, the new Parliamentary Spokesperson for the South West Surrey constituency and her counterpart in Guildford Sue Doughty have met residents to discuss the proposals. Sarah is also Spokesperson on the Environment for the Lib Dem group at Surrey

County Council. Studies commissioned by The Save Surrey Hills Action Committee (SSHAC) show that the proposed quarry would have a devastating impact on the communities in the area, and on the environment.

Questions are being asked at all levels of local government about the Eashing Farm proposals, with Lib Dem-led Waverley Borough Council protesting to the County Council and Lib Dem county councillor for Godalming North, Chris Slyfield, criticising the lack of information available on the Eashing Farm proposal.

Chris said, "All of a sudden, Eashing Farm seems to have crept into the Surrey Minerals Plan and we want to know why. It is not a suitable site, not least for environmental and transport reasons. Residents in my division have been asking me why is the County Council insisting on including such an unsuitable site? We must get answers NOW. Both Sarah Di Caprio and I will continue to hold the ruling Conservative administration at County Hall to account on Eashing Farm."

Transport remains a chief concern of local residents and this appears to be shared by the police, who have assured the Lib Dems they will be raising the matter with Surrey County Council. Sarah Di Caprio reinforced the point during recent members' questions at County Hall. "Transport issues was one reason why the site was not considered suitable before - I don't see what has changed to make it suitable now, particularly if the police share our concerns," she said.

Sarah Di Caprio has praised the work of local residents. "This is not about nimbyism. There would be permanent damage to the ecology of the area with the changes in the water table. There are nationally important environmental sites at risk which must be protected."

Nigel Wilkes of SSHAC said the action committee was angry that local people were left unaware of the council's proposals, only contacted "at the last minute" for their views. "Surrey County Council has completely failed us," he said. The sand at this site is of low value. It lies underneath Bargate Stone which will need to be blasted to get at the sand. This makes no sense when there are other workings in Surrey where the sand is much easier to get at.

For more information see www.sshac.org.uk