Arrowheads and skeleton may scupper pit expansion plan
Submitted by PaulM on Tuesday, 08 February 2005 Page Views: 2966
Site WatchCountry: England County: OxfordshireInternal Links:
Campaigners are hoping to put an end to an extension of the Caversham gravel quarry after evidence of pre-Christian graves was dug up. Lafarge Aggregates wants to extend the quarry north into the as yet untapped land in the Playhatch Triangle, but neighbours have vowed to fight the plan.
David Woodward, a committee member of longtime opponent the Sonning Eye Group, said the expansion threatened local wildlife and it was time to stop extractions after 50 years of quarrying.
“We’re pretty convinced there is a family of otters living on the site, which has not been mentioned at all in the application,” he said.
“There is also evidence that there may be a pre-Christian burial site, and possible settlement there, but there is no plan to do any rescue archaeology at all.
“During the autumn a partial skeleton, a broach and flint arrowheads were found.
“If Lafarge are allowed to develop this site, it opens the way for them to try and then develop a much larger area which it leads on to.”
He said the Sonning Eye Group was trying to organise a protest campaign before the public consultation period finishes on Monday, February 28.
Under the plans before Oxfordshire County Council, Lafarge wants to remove 370,000 tonnes of sand and gravel over a three year period from the north side of Playhatch Road.
The existing sand and gravel processing plant and the ready-mix concrete plant are to be removed and replaced by more modern equivalents further towards Sonning, while other, disused buildings will also be removed.
Once the sites are exhausted of resources, they will be turned in to lakes, islands, and marshland, to form a nature reserve.
Keith Wharmby, senior planning and estates manager for Lafarge, said there would now be further rounds of consultation with councils and the public.
He said: “There have been finds, and before we start work the planners will certainly put a condition on us to do a lot more archaeological work.
“I am not aware of any otters on the site. We did a very full and thorough ecological survey before submitting the application, and if there had been otters present they would have shown up on that.
“So far, we have had very little feedback from the consultation.”
Oxfordshire county councillor Carol Viney represents the Sonning and Playhatch areas and said she had met with villagers to listen to their concerns.
Anyone wishing to object to the proposals should write to council officer Joanna Freyther, Speedwell House, Speedwell Road, Oxford,
OX1 1NE.
Lafarge Aggregates has set up an information line for anyone wanting to know more about the proposals on (01992) 512 764.
Source: Reading Evening Post 8 February 2005
We would like to know more about this location. Please feel free to add a brief description and any relevant information in your own language.
Wir möchten mehr über diese Stätte erfahren. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, eine kurze Beschreibung und relevante Informationen in Deutsch hinzuzufügen.
Nous aimerions en savoir encore un peu sur les lieux. S'il vous plaît n'hesitez pas à ajouter une courte description et tous les renseignements pertinents dans votre propre langue.
Quisieramos informarnos un poco más de las lugares. No dude en añadir una breve descripción y otros datos relevantes en su propio idioma.