RESIDENTS of a Culm Valley village are fighting plans for a massive 13-year expansion of quarrying near their homes.

Aggregate Industries UK Ltd (AIUK) is applying to Devon County Council for planning permission to extract nearly four million tonnes of sand and gravel from Hillhead Quarry, near Penslade Cross, north of Uffculme.

It wants to process the material in the quarry’s existing processing plant and proposes to restore the site using inert materials to return it to agricultural use by 2049.

Planning agent Peter Wilsdon, of David Jarvis Associates Limited, said AIUK was an international aggregates, construction, and building materials group.

It was part of LafargeHolcim Limited, one of the world’s leading suppliers of cement, aggregates, concrete, and construction-related services with operations in more than 70 countries and on every continent.

One of the entrances to the existing Hillhead Quarry, near Uffculme. PHOTO: Google Maps.
One of the entrances to the existing Hillhead Quarry, near Uffculme. PHOTO: Google Maps. ( )

Mr Wilsdon said the 48-acre extension to the Hillhead quarry complex would allow AIUK to carry on using the existing processing plant and associated infrastructure and its vehicles could use the existing road network, which the company had significantly improved to reduce any impact on residents.

He said the extension area was within pebble beds which ran from Budleigh Salterton to the Somerset border near Burlescombe, outside Wellington.

Mr Wilsdon said: “The pebble beds are the main source of land-won sand and gravel in Devon due to the high quality and versatility of the resource in comparison with available alternatives.”

He said work would be carried out in four phases with an average of 300,000 tonnes of saleable sand and gravel extracted annually.

The same Hillhead Quarry working hours would apply to the extension, and although no new jobs would be created, it would protect the existing 11 employees along with work for contractors.

Mr Wilsdon said the country was heading for a shortage of sand and gravel reserves as sites closed and were not replaced, so the Penslade extension would add seven-and-a-half years to the national landbank.

A view across some of the land near Uffculme which Aggregate Quarries wants to quarry. PHOTO: Google Maps.
A view across some of the land near Uffculme which Aggregate Quarries wants to quarry. PHOTO: Google Maps. ( )

He said leaflets had been delivered to homes in Uffculme and public consultation was carried out, including a public exhibition in Square Corner, but it was only attended by 36 people.

Uffculme resident Tony Lane called via social media for residents to send their thoughts to Devon County Council, which will decide whether or not to approve the extension.

Mr Lane said: “They will dig out the sand and gravel and then landfill with inert waste - yet another Broadpath landfill.

“This is on your doorstep and will be visible from the village, Gaddon Woods, Culmstock Beacon, and when you come into the village from the Wellington end.

“As always, AIUK have swamped the application with information.

“In short, dust, noise, traffic, loss of wildlife, local enjoyment, are the critical issues.

“They make all the promises, but you can see what they actually do - have a look at Hillhead/Clay Lane and the Broadpath landfill site.

“Legacy is everything and we do not want to leave yet more damaged landscape for future generations.

“Once agreed by county planners who do not live here, we will have to accept what happens.”