Campaigners have welcomed the decision to withdraw a planning application for gravel extraction next to the village of Barton in Fabis and Clifton and just a few hundred metres from the world-famous Attenborough Nature Reserve.
The plans, which would have seen the local area plagued by noise and dust would also have massively impacted migratory birds and local wildlife. They were opposed by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust who run Attenborough Nature Reserve.
A huge campaign of opposition from residents and wildlife campaigners had seen more than a thousand objections submitted to Nottinghamshire County Council’s planning portal.
Although this version of the application has been scrapped, the applicant has said they intend to submit a new application next year.
Julian Coles, who is a member of Barton in Fabis Parish Council and the SAVE campaign group welcomed the decision:
“This is the wrong place to put a gravel pit. It’s so close to our village, Larkhill Retirement Village and Attenborough Nature reserve.
We have been working with Ruth Edwards our local MP, Councillors Rex Walker and Matt Barney, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, Lilian Greenwood MP, and other groups to oppose this application.
It’s great to see it gone after 8 years.
Obviously this isn’t the end of our fight, but this is a good day for the residents of Larkhill Retirement Village, the wildlife of Attenborough Nature Reserve and the communities of Clifton, Clifton Village, Barton in Fabis, Gotham & Thrumpton.
It’s been eight years of hard work and whilst we know this isn’t the end of the campaign, it is perhaps the end of the beginning.”
Ruth Edwards, MP for Rushcliffe said:
“I am delighted to see this application withdrawn. It was nowhere near good enough for such a sensitive location.
The Government has hugely strengthened environmental protections and is committed to ensuring that all planning protects and enhances our environment.
This application took no account of that emerging policy and ignored the impact which this gravel extraction would have on the Attenborough nature reserve. It was also largely silent on plans for restoring the site.
With more than 100 problems with the proposals, it is absolutely right that it has been withdrawn.
I would like to congratulate all the residents for their hard work over many years.”
Nottinghamshire County Councillor Matt Barney said:
“I was pleased to see that this application had been withdrawn. It remains my view that The sustainability and environmental impact would be considerable and I am delighted that this beautiful green swathe of valley on the Southern flank of the great City of Nottingham remains unspoilt.”
A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust said:
“Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has been fighting to protect wildlife from the threat of a huge sand and gravel quarry at Barton in Fabis, directly across the River Trent from our much loved Attenborough Nature Reserve for almost a decade. We therefore welcome news that the application has been withdrawn, but remain committed to standing shoulder to shoulder with local campaigners to protect the area’s wildlife.
This is one of the most ecologically damaging minerals allocations we’ve ever dealt with and it is difficult to see how a new application could be modified to remove the impacts on wildlife. We would also question whether it is justifiable to subject residents and others that care about the local area to yet more uncertainty and delay.”