Chalkpit Quarry
21 July 2019
Chalkpit lorries public inquiry to last 4 days - starts 21 January 2020. A venue has still to be agreed.
The Planning Inspectorate has now fixed the date for a 4 day public inquiry into the Chalkpit Quarry operator's appeal against conditions on the lorries agreed by Surrey County Council in October last year.
The operator Southern Gravel is appealing against the limit of 112 HGV movements a day - it wants a daily limit of 200 HGV movements. The company is also appealing against two other conditions: one prohibits HGVs leaving the quarry during school drop off and pick up times, the other involves monitoring the condition of Chalkpit Lane and verges and paying for any repairs needed because of the HGVs.
These conditions have never come into effect because Southern Gravel had six months to appeal the County Council's decision. The appeal means that there is still no daily limit on lorry numbers using the quarry.
OLRG has submitted expert legal and planning representations to the Planning Inspector and its Councillors intend to take part in the 4 day inquiry.
12 July 2019
Just a reminder that next Wednesday 17 July is the deadline for comments to be sent to the Chalkpit appeal Planning Inspector.
The quarry operator Southern Gravel is appealing against the limit of 112 HGV movements a day - it wants a daily limit of 200 HGV movements. The company is also appealing against two other conditions in the planning permission approved by Surrey County Council on 17 October last year: one is the condition prohibiting HGVs leaving the quarry during school drop off and pick up times, the other involves monitoring the condition of Chalkpit Lane and verges and paying for any repairs needed because of the HGVs.
These conditions have never come into effect because Southern Gravel had six months to appeal the decision. The appeal means that there is still no daily limit on lorry numbers using the quarry.
The appeal will be held as a public inquiry - we do not yet have a date but believe it may be in late November or December.
OLRG is taking expert legal and planning advice for its representations.
We are pleased to say that Tandridge District Council is also submitting detailed representations.
If you would like to make representations, email your comments quoting the reference number: APP/ROMP/19/01 to environment.appeals@pins.gsi.gov.uk
Or write to the case officer Stephen Allen at: Environment & Transport Team, The Planning Inspectorate, Room 3A, Eagle Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN, quoting the reference number. Wherever possible you must submit three copies of your letter (unless sent electronically).
You may also want to sign this petition created by East Surrey MP Sam Gyimah: click here
16 June 2019
Chalkpit lorries public inquiry - 17 July deadline for comments
Chalkpit Quarry operator Southern Gravel's appeal against the limit of 112 HGV movements a day is to be decided by a public inquiry.
Southern Gravel wants a daily limit of 200 HGV movements (100 in and 100 out). The company is also appealing against two other conditions in the planning permission approved by Surrey County Council on 17 October last year and wants them deleted: one is the condition prohibiting HGVs leaving the quarry during school drop off and pick up times, the other involves monitoring the condition of Chalkpit Lane and verges and paying for any repairs needed because of the HGVs.
These conditions have never come into effect because Southern Gravel had six months to appeal the decision. The appeal means that there is still no daily limit on lorry numbers using the quarry.
If you would like to make representations about the appeal your comments should be made in writing to the case officer Stephen Allen at the following address: Environment & Transport Team, The Planning Inspectorate, Room 3A, Eagle Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN, quoting the following appeal reference number: APP/ROMP/19/01. Email:environment.appeals@pins.gsi.gov.uk Wherever possible you must submit three copies of your letter (unless sent electronically).
Comments must be sent to the Planning Inspectorate by 17 July 2019. No date has yet been set for the public inquiry.
If you would like any more information, please do get in touch.
17 May 2019
The Chalkpit quarry operator, Southern Gravel Limited, has lodged an appeal against Surrey County Council's daily limit of 112 HGVs. As soon as we have more details we will be taking legal advice.
Southern Gravel is also appealing against two other conditions in the planning permission approved by SCC on 17 October last year: one is the condition prohibiting HGVs during school drop off and pick up times, the other involves monitoring the condition of Chalkpit Lane and verges and paying for any repairs needed because of the HGVs.
These conditions approved by SCC last October have not come into effect because Southern Gravel had six months to appeal the decision.
It has done so which means that the conditions will not come into effect until all proceedings on the application, including appeals to the Secretary of State and the High Court have been determined, and the time period for any further appeal has expired. This could take a long time.
The appeal means that there is still no daily limit on lorry numbers using the quarry.
Surrey County Council has told OLRG:
'.... we have received today by letter and email confirmation that Southern Gravel Ltd have chosen to appeal against conditions 24, 25 and 26 of planning permission ref: TA12/902 which relate to highways matters. Southern Gravel Ltd have submitted the appeal to the Planning Inspectorate and we will now have to wait for the Planning Inspectorate to validate the appeal and they write to us with a start date. We have no actions until we get the start date from the Planning Inspectorate.'
17 October 2018
Please let us know your views on the 112 Chalkpit HGV daily limit (56 in and 56 out) approved by Surrey County Council on 17 October 2018. This was a reduction from the 156 HGV daily limit being proposed by the County Council.
We have been getting a lot of feedback about this decision from residents who have concerns and because of this we want to consult as widely as possible.
Please do send us your views by emailing oxted.residents@btinternet.com Thank you.
We would like to make clear that OLRG and the Oxted residents who spoke at the Surrey County Council meeting where the number was agreed, did not put forward the figure for the daily limit and do not endorse it. Until proper viability evidence has been collected and assessed, we do not think that any number can be justified. The main reason for the reduction was because no evidence had been put forward that the quarry's economic viability would be affected by a lower number. This was the point made firmly to the County Council by OLRG's solicitors Blake Morgan.
But until the evidence has been collected and a proper viability assessment has been carried out, we do not think any number can be justified.
Our solicitors made clear that had SCC approved 156 HGVs a day, the decision would be open to judicial review because the County Council had not applied the proper legal test over economic viability.
Surrey County Council officers have now written to our solicitors asking for more details of the correct legal test.
OLRG Tandridge District Councillor Jackie Wren together with Oxted residents Amanda Griffiths and Lisa Willoughby spoke strongly against the proposal for 156 HGVs at the Surrey County Council meeting.
It is disappointing that Tandridge District Council forgot to submit a response to SCC's August 2018 consultation on the quarry lorries and only submitted a letter of objection on Monday, 15 October. We have queried this with TDC and been told that it was because of a problem with the Council's computer system which meant that the consultation was overlooked. We have been promised that the problem will be rectified for the future.
Together with Blake Morgan, we are reviewing all the details of the new planning controls for the quarry agreed by Surrey County Councillors on Wednesday. One of the controls is that there should be no quarry lorries at school drop off and pick up times but it's not clear how this would be enforced.
8 October 2018
OLRG is pressing Surrey County Council to put the safety of Oxted's schoolchildren and residents first and to drop its plan to approve a massive daily limit for HGVs using Chalkpit Quarry in Oxted.
We have engaged transport consultants Vectos and solicitors Blake Morgan and are challenging the County Council's proposal for a limit of 156 lorry movements a day (78 in and 78 out). We believe this figure is based on a fear of being sued rather than on what is a safe and reasonable number of HGVs.
Dozens of residents have written to the County Council detailing the daily dangers they face from the HGVs which travel through Oxted on narrow roads, parts of which are without a pavement and which schoolchildren use to walk to school. Residents have warned that someone will be badly injured or killed if such a high daily limit is approved.
Traffic experts, Vectos, have completed a thorough review of the route which has been sent to the County Council. It highlights how inadequate Chalkpit Lane and Barrow Green Road are to cope with HGV traffic. In many places it is impossible for an HGV and a car to pass. As part of the 32 page review from Vectos, the author writes:
'On visiting the area recently, during one car trip from the A25 to the top of Chalkpit Lane (at The Ridge) and back (via Barrow Green Road west of Chalkpit Lane), there were six separate occasions when a quarry HGV was unable to pass the car being driven that necessitated either a reversing manoeuvre (by the car driver) or the HGV having to drive into the verge (and on one occasion, mount a physical kerb). Local residents witness this every day and evidence has been submitted by numerous parties over many years documenting such occurrences.'
OLRG Tandridge District Councillor for Oxted North and Tandridge, Catherine Sayer, who along with other OLRG members has been working with the experts said: 'The proposed limits pose a huge threat to public safety and residents feel the risk of a fatality or fatalities is frighteningly high. We are going to fight this as far as we possibly can. Our primary concern is to ensure that those who travel on the roads, whether driving, walking, cycling or horse riding, are safe and without intimidation or fear of being hit by an HGV.'
A letter from solicitors Blake Morgan submitted to the County Council concludes: 'In light of the above legal tests, OLRG is therefore of the view that there is no evidence to justify the limits proposed by either the Applicant or Surrey County Council, and that such limits cannot be imposed without incurring a severe and wholly unacceptable risk to public safety.'
The County Council, which has spent more than 6 years considering a review of planning controls on the quarry, says it aims to make a decision at its Planning Committee meeting on 17 October.
June 2018
County Council set to cave in over Chalkpit lorries - please write in now to object
OLRG now has confirmation that Surrey County Council (SCC) is giving in to pressure from the Chalkpit quarry operator, Southern Gravel, over a daily limit on Chalkpit quarry lorries despite major road safety concerns.
A Ietter to Southern Gravel's solicitors, which has been released to OLRG by SCC (with some parts redacted), proposes a huge daily limit of 156 lorry movements a day (78 in and 78 out). We believe this proposal is based on a fear of being sued rather than on what is a safe and reasonable number of HGVs.
Southern Gravel is claiming even that is not enough - it is proposing a daily limit of 200 movements a day (100 in and 100 out).
SCC's letter can be read on this link (see para 1.6 for SCC's proposal) click here
It is now 6 years since SCC began considering the daily limit figure as part of its review of planning controls on the quarry.
In July 2017, when it first became clear that SCC might be caving in to Southern Gravel, dozens of residents wrote in to SCC to say that a proposed daily limit of 150 HGV movements a day is just not safe. They warned of a serious accident and that someone will be badly injured or killed if such a high daily limit is approved.
Please write now to East Surrey MP Sam Gyimah and Martin Fisher who is the Leader of Tandridge District Council asking them to intervene to prevent this huge and unsafe daily limit of 156 HGVs being agreed. Comments, including any experiences you have had with quarry lorries, should be emailed to sam@samgyimah.com and Cllr.martin.fisher@tandridgedc.gov.uk
March 2018 Chalkpit lorries - still no decision
Surrey County Council has now said that it will not be deciding the review of planning controls on Chalkpit Quarry this month.
There has been speculation that the decision would at last be made at an SCC meeting on 21 March.
But yesterday a County Council Planning Officer who is dealing with the quarry told OLRG: "I can confirm the application will not be reported to the March committee. I received a response from the applicant in February, however it was asking for more evidence and clarification from the County Planning Authority. I have this week sent a response back to the applicant on the matters raised by them and now await their response."
It is now five years and nine months since SCC began considering the review of planning controls.
For many months, there has been an excessive number of HGVs using Chalkpit Quarry causing misery for residents on the lorry route and damage to roads and verges.
It's hoped that the review will at last bring in a safe and reasonable daily limit on the number of lorries. However, in June last year, Southern Gravel published a Transport Statement which said that SCC was proposing a daily limit of 150 movements a day (75 in and 75 out).
This high number sparked worries that SCC is caving in to pressure from Southern Gravel. Dozens of residents wrote in to SCC making clear their fears that someone will be badly injured or killed if a daily limit of 150 HGV movements is allowed.
OLRG took legal advice and sent in a submission explaining, among other things, why the traffic figures provided in the Transport Statement are inadequate.
To read our submission click here
At the moment, the quarry is operating under a 1997 planning permission which has no daily limit on lorries.
February 2018
We are receiving queries about when Surrey County Council will decide on the review of planning controls on Chalkpit Quarry.
There has been speculation that the decision will be taken at a committee meeting on 21 March but this is by no means definite because SCC is still awaiting information regarding traffic figures from the quarry operator, Southern Gravel.
A County Council Planning Officer who is dealing with the quarry said: "At present I have the application on the list for March committee however I am still awaiting a response from the applicant. My view is that we require the applicant's response on my letter to them given the sensitivity of the application and it would be unreasonable to report the application to the committee without their response. Therefore this date could potentially change."
In November 2017, SCC told OLRG that the review of planning controls on Chalkpit Quarry now "looks likely to be determined in the spring of 2018."
A County Council Planning Officer said: "I appreciate that this is a further delay however it is important that we have all the facts before we can issue new working conditions for this site and the County Council is still in dialogue with the applicant with regards to traffic figures."
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July 2017 Residents warn "someone will be killed"
Dozens of residents have written in to Surrey County Council making clear their fears that there will be a serious accident if the Council approves the proposed huge daily limit on Chalkpit quarry lorry numbers.
Residents have warned that someone will be badly injured or killed if a daily limit of 150 HGV movements is allowed. They've said that the amount of HGV movements proposed in the transport plan from the quarry operator, Southern Gravel, is just not safe.
There are fears that Surrey County Council is caving in to Southern Gravel over the daily limit despite major safety concerns.
In Southern Gravel's Transport Statement it is proposing a daily limit of 200 movements a day (100 in and 100 out) - see Para 6.7
More worrying still, is that the Statement says that SCC is proposing a daily limit of 150 movements a day (75 in and 75 out) - see Para 1.11.
The Statement can be read on this link: click here
It is also very worrying that Paras 1.11 and 10.12 say that SCC intends the limit to apply only to HGVs importing waste to the site. The number of HGVs used for chalk extraction would remain unlimited.
In an earlier Transport Statement published in January 2016, Southern Gravel said SCC was proposing a daily limit of 56 movements a day (28 in and 28 out) but it was contesting this as unreasonable because "it will limit the ability of the site to function efficiently." It looks like SCC is giving in to this pressure.
Southern Gravel's new Transport Statement says in Paras 5.7 and 5.8 that there were no accidents recorded between 1 January 2012 and 30 November 2016 - but it does not add that the Chalkpit was actually closed during that period.
On 23 June, OLRG wrote to East Surrey MP, Sam Gyimah, asking him to request the Environment Secretary to call in for review the December 2016 decision by the Environment Agency (EA) to issue a permit to Southern Gravel doubling the annual infill limit for Chalkpit quarry from 100,000 to 200,000 tonnes.
The decision was made by the EA without any consultation with residents or, we understand, with Surrey County Council, the relevant Minerals and Waste Authority.
When it made its decision, the EA was aware of the serious concerns of residents about road safety. But EA correspondence obtained by OLRG through a Freedom of Information request, says: 'The local residents concerns are regarding all traffic movements on the highway, which we do not take into consideration. We only look at traffic movements within the site and I have no concerns there, it has established roadways and capacity for the increased volumes.'
We understand that Mr Gyimah has now met with the EA but has been told that the EA can do nothing to alter the decision and that they were under no obligation to consult as they are only concerned with what happens within the site.
Here is a recent video of quarry lorries in Chalkpit Lane click here
To listen to BBC Surrey coverage of the Chalkpit quarry lorries story click here
It is now more than 5 years since Surrey County Council began considering this matter. It was in June 2012 that it began a review of planning controls on the quarry which it was hoped would at last bring in a safe and reasonable daily limit on the number of HGVs.
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Chalkpit Quarry lorries - write in by 7 July
Surrey County Council looks set to cave in to the Chalkpit Quarry operator despite major road safety concerns from residents.
Please write in now to object.
It's feared that Surrey County Council (SCC) is giving in to pressure from the Chalkpit quarry operator, Southern Gravel, over a daily limit on HGVs using the quarry.
In Southern Gravel's new Transport Statement from the Hurlstone Partnership that is now being consulted on, Southern Gravel is proposing a daily limit of 200 movements a day (100 in and 100 out) - see Para 6.7
More worrying still, is that the Statement says that SCC is proposing a daily limit of 150 movements a day (75 in and 75 out) - see Para 1.11.
The Statement can be read on this link: click here
It is also very worrying that Paras 1.11 and 10.12 say that SCC intends the limit to apply only to HGVs importing waste to the site. The number of HGVs used for chalk extraction would remain unlimited.
In an earlier Transport Statement published in January 2016, Southern Gravel said SCC was proposing a daily limit of 56 movements a day (28 in and 28 out) but it was contesting this as unreasonable because "it will limit the ability of the site to function efficiently." It looks like SCC is caving in to this pressure.
Southern Gravel's new Transport Statement says in Paras 5.7 and 5.8 that there were no accidents recorded between 1 January 2012 and 30 November 2016 - but it does not add that the Chalkpit was actually closed during that period.
To stop a huge daily limit being set, it is crucial to write in now to SCC and make your views known. Comments, including any experiences you have had with quarry lorries, should be emailed to MWCD@surreycc.gov.uk quoting Ref TA/2012/902.
Or write to Alan Stones, Planning Development Team Manager, Planning & Development Group, Surrey County Council, County Hall, Kingston upon Thames Surrey, KT1 2DY by 7 July.
Please copy in Oxted's Surrey County Councillor, Cameron McIntosh, on cameron.mcintosh@surreycc.gov.uk
We would be very grateful if you would also send us a copy of your comments.
On 23 June, OLRG wrote to East Surrey MP, Sam Gyimah, asking him to request the Environment Secretary to call in for review the December 2016 decision by the Environment Agency (EA) to issue a permit to Southern Gravel doubling the annual infill limit for Chalkpit quarry from 100,000 to 200,000 tonnes.
The decision was made by the EA without any consultation with residents or, we understand, with Surrey County Council, the relevant Minerals and Waste Authority.
Following the EA's decision, Surrey County Council now looks ready to approve a huge daily limit of 150 HGV movements.
When it made its decision, the EA was aware of the serious concerns of residents about road safety. But EA correspondence obtained by OLRG through a Freedom of Information request, says: 'The local residents concerns are regarding all traffic movements on the highway, which we do not take into consideration. We only look at traffic movements within the site and I have no concerns there, it has established roadways and capacity for the increased volumes.'
Our great fear is that this will only end when someone is seriously injured or killed.
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January 2017
Chalkpit reopens as County Council fails to decide
Chalkpit Quarry is operating again and there are concerns about the number of lorries, their speed, their size and the damage to verges.
In June 2012, Surrey County Council began a long awaited review of the planning controls on the quarry and it was hoped this would at last bring in a limit on lorry numbers but four and a half years later, the County Council has still not made a decision.
The operator, Southern Gravel, has confirmed that the number of lorries using the quarry will be the same, if not higher, than it was when the quarry closed in September 2011.
There is no limit on the number of lorries using the quarry because it is operating under a permission given in 1997 by Surrey County Council that did not include any condition limiting numbers.
If you have concerns about the quarry lorries please email Surrey County Council at MWCD@surreycc.gov.uk
Dangerous driving by HGVs should be reported to Surrey Police.
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February 2016
Chalkpit Quarry Lorries - write in by 1st March
Surrey County Council (SCC) is holding a new consultation about Chalkpit Quarry in Oxted and a daily limit on the number of quarry lorries. Please write in now with your views.
Many members will have received a consultation letter this week (copied below) from SCC about future operations at the Chalkpit. It is part of the review of planning controls on the quarry that SCC is carrying out.
SCC is proposing a condition limiting HGV movements to a maximum of 56 per day (28 lorries in and 28 lorries out).
The operator, Southern Gravel Limited (SGL), is disputing this via a traffic assessment which can be read on this link: click here
The County Council is asking for views on SGL's assessment which claims that no daily limit should be imposed.
The assessment says that even on the quarry's busiest day, when there were a massive 362 lorry movements recorded (181 in and 181 out), there were no "unacceptable impacts." SGL says that if there has to be a daily limit, then it should be 362 movements per day.
Even if you have written in before, please do write in again to SCC with your views on what has been said in this traffic assessment such as the comments on the suitability of the roads and the lack of problems caused by the HGVs.
In particular, you may wish to support SCC's daily limit or you may wish to propose an alternative figure.
Email comments to MWCD@surreycc .gov.uk or write in to SCC at the address below.
The closing date is 1st March. OLRG will be submitting a response and we would be very grateful to be copied any comments you make so that we can incorporate them.
For information: the quarry has been shut since September 2011. The review of planning controls began in June 2012 when more than 160 letters from residents were sent in to SCC objecting to the new planning conditions proposed by SGL which did not include any daily limit on lorry numbers. In 2014, SGL submitted a planning application to build 27 detached houses on the quarry site. This was refused by Tandridge Council.
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SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL'S CONSULTATION LETTER
Tel: 020 8541 9897
Fax: 0208 541 9399
e-mail: MWCD@ surreycc .gov.uk
Planning & Development Group
County Hall
Kingston upon Thames
Surrey KT1 2DY
Our ref:/SCC Ref 2012/0114
Your ref:
9 February 2016
Dear Sirs
TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990
RE-CONSULTATION ON CURRENT APPLICATION
SITE: Oxted Quarry, Chalkpit Lane, Oxted, Surrey RHB OQW
PROPOSAL: Periodic review of a mineral site planning permission for the winning and working of chalk for the determination of full modern conditions.
APPLICANT: Southern Gravel Ltd
GRID REF: 538205 154414
Further information has been submitted in respect of the above application for planning permission/ approval. The additional information is available for viewing/downloading from our website: http://planninq.surreycc.qov.uk/planappsearch.aspx by entering SCC Ref 2012/0114.
I would be glad to receive any further observations which you may wish to make so that these can be taken into account when the proposals are formally considered by the County Planning Authority. Could you please let me have a reply within 21 days.
Please note that if this application is reported to the Planning and Regulatory Committee our scheme of public speaking does not allow representatives of residents associations , amenity groups and other bodies or organisations consulted on the application to speak at the meeting.
In the event of any appeal to the Secretary of State in relation to the above, copies of your reply will be forwarded to the Secretary of State and to the appellant, unless your reply is marked 'confidential'.
If you have any queries about the application, please contact the Case Officer, Samantha Murphy on 020 8541 7107.
Yours sincerely
Simon Rowland
Planning Development Technical Support Team
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November 2014
CHALKPIT QUARRY - HOUSING APPLICATION REFUSED
Tandridge Council has refused planning permission for housing on the quarry site. The operator of Chalkpit Quarry, Southern Gravel Limited (SGL), had submitted a planning application to build 27 detached houses there. The decision to refuse was taken unanimously by the Council's Planning Committee.
Meanwhile, after what is now almost two and a half years, Surrey County Council has still not made a decision on the Chalkpit Review which will decide a new set of operating conditions for the quarry should it open again. It seems an extraordinary length of time to be considering a decision.
May 2014
CHALKPIT QUARRY - PLANNING APPLICATION SUBMITTED FOR 27 HOUSES
SEND COMMENTS TO TANDRIDGE COUNCIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
A planning application has now been submitted to build 27 detached houses on the quarry site.
Details can be read on the Tandridge Council website, see planning application TA/2014/741.
Comments should be sent as soon as possible to: comaps@tandridge.gov.uk
Southern Gravel Limited (SGL) say they will close the quarry for good, but only if they get the housing permission from Tandridge Council. Otherwise, they say, they will re-open the quarry which has been shut, temporarily, since September 2011.
So, they are saying take the houses or the lorries. But the site is in the Green Belt, and also within the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, where no development should take place unless the developer can prove that "very special circumstances" exist to justify it.
We've listed some points below for consideration in case they are helpful:
* Under Tandridge Council's current development plan there is no need to release areas of Green Belt for housing development. Tandridge has consistently exceeded its annual housing requirement and currently maintains a healthy supply of new housing opportunities (in excess of the five-year requirement). This housing development is not necessary to meet any currently identified housing requirement.
* SGL is pursuing the housing application at the same time as Surrey County Council are carrying out the Chalkpit Review to decide a new set of operating conditions for the quarry. The review affects the way SGL can operate the quarry, for example the number of lorries allowed per day, but it does not affect the underlying planning permission. SGL has a permission for the extraction of minerals and deposit of inert waste which lasts until 2042.
* OLRG is concerned that any planning permission given for a Green Belt site might set a precedent for other GB sites such as the Chichele field. The only way this would not happen is if there were what is termed "very special circumstances" for giving the permission as a one off. In August 2012, Tandridge Council asked the County Council to deal with the Review as 'a matter of urgency' because whether such special circumstances existed was likely to depend on the impact of the existing quarry use - that would only be clear when the new conditions were known. More than two years later, the County Council have still not made a decision.
* In July 2012, more than 160 letters from residents were sent in to the Review objecting to the new conditions proposed by SGL because they were much the same as the old conditions and did not propose any limit on lorry numbers. In the years before the temporary closure, the unlimited numbers of quarry lorries had become intolerable and led to major protests from residents about the extreme road safety dangers and the damage to the local environment.
* The existing planning permission requires restoration of the quarry to "amenity, conservation and agricultural grazing''. But SGL say they are not able to fund early restoration of the site unless they get the planning permission and the money from the 27 detached houses.
* The suitability, or otherwise, of Chalkpit Lane to cope with the amount of new traffic generated by the proposed development.
January 2014
CHALKPIT REVIEW STILL NOT DECIDED
Surrey County Council has still not made a decision on the Chalkpit Review. More than 160 letters from residents were sent in to the Review, in July 2012, objecting to the new planning conditions proposed by the quarry operator, Southern Gravel Limited.
In January 2013, one of the County Council's planning officers told us: 'We are still awaiting further survey information from the applicant... "
In April 2013, he told us: 'The further survey work took longer than expected, and the results are expected next month (May 2013). When we receive the information, we will go out for further consultation under Regulation 22 of the EIA Regulations, in addition we will be seeking a legal opinion on the ROMP (Review of Old Mineral Planning Permissions)...
In August, we asked again, querying why it is taking the County Council such an extraordinary length of time to make a decision. The planning officer said:
'It is important that we have all the facts before we can issue new working conditions for this active chalk quarry site, and we have been waiting on a geotechnical survey report from the applicant. The applicant's agent has also been on holiday and he responded to me on the 12 August 2013, stating that he would chase up the geotechnical consultants for the report. When we receive the report we will be able to conduct the further consultation, as I mentioned in my previous email on 23 April 2013. We have not sought the legal opinion, to which I referred to in my email. We cannot make a decision on this periodic review of the mineral permission until we have all the facts.'
So, after 18 months of waiting, there is still no sign of a decision. It seems totally unreasonable and unfair for the County Council to leave this hanging over people's heads, particularly for those residents who were for so long very badly affected by operations at the Chalkpit.
June 2012
CHALKPIT REVIEW - PLEASE WRITE IN BY 31 JULY 2012
The prospect of HGV hell returned to Oxted this week as the operator of Chalkpit Quarry submitted plans to carry on as before with unlimited numbers of quarry lorries.
Oxted & Limpsfield Residents Group (OLRG) has received details of Southern Gravel Limited's (SGL) proposed new planning conditions for the quarry which it is asking Surrey County Council to approve.
There is absolutely nothing in them to address the intolerable situation with quarry lorries. In fact, any lorry problem is strenuously denied. The documents state: 'it is not proposed to limit vehicle movements' and 'The continued operation of the site would be broadly at the same level as has occurred in the recent past.'
The company intends to start up its operations again as before. The new conditions it is proposing are almost identical to the old ones from 1997 which have caused problems over so many years.
Typical quotes from SGL's application are:
'Whilst the local road network comprising Barrow Green Road, Chalkpit Lane, Church Lane and East Hill Road may not be ideally suited to HGV access when compared with modern desirable standards, it is apparent that the current level of use has not led to a significant problem in terms of highway safety.'
'The highway assessment confirms that historic vehicle levels have been accommodated on the road network and that there is no material issue with the safety of the network.'
We think the many emails/letters sent in last year, objecting to SGL's request for the Review to be postponed, made a big difference.
Residents from all over Oxted bombarded the County Council, describing the nightmare of living with the quarry lorries.
They were not just standard letters but heartfelt, personal experiences. Some were quite disturbing with details of near misses, children at risk, verbal abuse by drivers and environmental damage. They painted a frightening picture of what has been, for many years, an intolerable situation.
SO PLEASE WRITE IN NOW. Email your comments to Alan Stones at Surrey County Council at MWCD@surreycc.gov.uk quoting SCC Ref 2012/0114/SJ or write to: Alan Stones, Planning Development Control Team Manager, Surrey County Council, County Hall, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2DY.
Please include:
' The controls you think are needed on the quarry's operations, e.g. limiting lorry numbers.
' Any specific evidence you have of highway problems - especially incidents - to contradict what the application is saying.
' Attach any photos; they are some of the best evidence of all.
Comments must be received by 31 July. If you are emailing comments, we'd be grateful if you could copy us in at oxted.residents@btinternet.com
OLRG will be objecting to SGL's plans and putting forward proposals for new conditions based on what residents want brought in.
Surrey County Council is currently carrying out a review of controls put on the quarry 15 years ago. Residents say these controls are hopelessly inadequate, allowing uncontrolled numbers of monster 32 tonne trucks to thunder along small country roads. The HGVs cause extreme road safety dangers to schoolchildren, pedestrians, horseriders and motorists, in what is a heavily populated residential area, as well as wrecking the local environment. There is an infant school, a junior school and the largest secondary school in Surrey (2,200 pupils) very close to the lorry route.
The full details of the application, running to hundreds of pages, can be read on Tandridge Council's website by inputting the reference number 2012/902 into the planning applications page. Or you can go to the Council offices in Oxted and read them. The Transport Statement says the quarry lorries have never had any serious impact or caused safety problems.
The next review is in 15 years' time so it's very important to get proper conditions now. The quarry has planning permission until 2042.
Residents have been campaigning for years to end the dangers caused by the uncontrolled numbers of quarry lorries. It's a miracle that no-one has been killed or seriously injured.
For more coverage of the Chalkpit review story click here and click here
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June 2012
CHALKPIT REVIEW LATEST
The review of planning controls on Chalkpit Quarry is now underway. Last Friday (8 June) the quarry operator, Southern Gravel Limited (SGL), submitted its scheme of new conditions to Surrey County Council (SCC) for approval.
Consultation on the proposed scheme has not yet begun and SCC says it doesn't yet know when that will happen. It says: 'Formal notification of neighbours and other interested groups will follow in due course.'
Hopefully, everyone who wrote in July 2011 to object to the postponement of the review will be notified individually by SCC. In any case, as soon as OLRG is notified, we will let residents know so that they can comment. OLRG will also be sending in comments, and these will include the additional controls that residents want to see brought in. After years of problems, the review is a chance, at last, to get proper conditions put on the quarry's planning consent.
It's been all quiet on the quarry lorry front for some time now but they could start up again, as before, at any time so we think it's very important to take part in the consultation when it comes.
Last July, after a blitz of letters from horrified residents, Surrey's minerals bosses gave the go ahead for a review of planning controls on the quarry. SGL had applied for a 10 year postponement saying the existing conditions were 'entirely satisfactory.' Since then, SGL has made two further requests to have the review postponed - both have been refused by SCC.
It's been a tremendous result for people power. Residents from all over Oxted bombarded the County Council with emails and letters, describing the nightmare of living with the quarry lorries and explaining why a postponement of the review should be refused.
They were not just standard letters but heartfelt, personal experiences. Some were quite disturbing with details of near misses, children at risk, verbal abuse by drivers and environmental damage. They painted a frightening picture of what has been, for many years, an intolerable situation.
The County Council's refusal letter to Southern Gravel said the existing conditions are not satisfactory and that: ''.. there is extensive evidence of concern from local residents with respect to the impact of HGV traffic on the locality and many letters of objection have been received to this application to postpone.'
The letter said the Chalkpit has had a history of complaints about HGV traffic since Southern Gravel took over the site in 2006.
It's really good news that local views have been listened to click here
All the letters from residents gave a clear idea of the new controls that people want to see - things like limits on lorry numbers, size of lorries, hours of operating, intervals between lorries, speed limits, routing, environmental safeguards and, very importantly, proper enforcement of any agreed new scheme.
Please do send us details of anything you think should be included by emailing oxted.residents@btinternet.com or writing to: OLRG, PO Box 233, Oxted Post Office, Station Road West, Oxted, RH8 9EH
Residents have been campaigning for years to end the dangers caused by the uncontrolled numbers of quarry lorries. It's a miracle that no-one has been killed or seriously injured.
The number of lorries is uncontrolled because no condition, limiting numbers, was attached to the 1997 planning consent. HGVs travel through a heavily populated residential area which includes an infant school, a junior school and the largest secondary school in Surrey. As well as schoolchildren being put at risk, so too are pedestrians, horseriders and motorists.
For more coverage of the Chalkpit review story click here and click here
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September 2011
CHALKPIT REVIEW TO GO AHEAD
After a blitz of letters from horrified residents, Surrey's minerals bosses have given the go ahead for a review of planning controls on Chalkpit Quarry. The operator, Southern Gravel, had applied for a 10 year postponement saying the existing conditions were 'entirely satisfactory'.
It's a tremendous result for people power. Residents from all over Oxted bombarded the County Council with emails and letters, describing the nightmare of living with the quarry lorries and explaining why a postponement of the review should be refused.
They were not just standard letters but heartfelt, personal experiences. Some were quite disturbing with details of near misses, children at risk, verbal abuse by drivers and environmental damage. They painted a frightening picture of what has been, for many years, an intolerable situation.
The County Council's refusal letter to Southern Gravel says the existing conditions are not satisfactory and that: ''.. there is extensive evidence of concern from local residents with respect to the impact of HGV traffic on the locality and many letters of objection have been received to this application to postpone.'
The letter says the Chalkpit has had a history of complaints about HGV traffic since Southern Gravel took over the site in 2006.
It's really good news that local views have been listened to click here
What happens next
Southern Gravel has until 11 June to submit a scheme of new conditions for the Chalkpit, to the County Council, for approval. If no scheme is submitted then the existing planning permission will come to an end, apart from the requirement for any restoration of the site or aftercare.
If a scheme is submitted, residents will be consulted on it and this will be a chance, at last, to get proper conditions put on the consent. OLRG will, with the help of its lawyers, draw up a response which will include the additional controls that residents want to see brought in.
All the letters have given a good idea of the controls that are wanted - things like limits on lorry numbers, size of lorries, hours of operating, intervals between lorries, speed limits, routing, environmental safeguards and, very importantly, proper enforcement of any agreed new scheme.
Please do send us details of anything you think should be included by emailing oxted.residents@btinternet.com or writing to: OLRG, PO Box 233, Oxted Post Office, Station Road West, Oxted, RH8 9EH
Residents have been campaigning for years to end the dangers caused by the uncontrolled numbers of quarry lorries. It's a miracle that no-one has been killed or seriously injured.
The number of lorries is uncontrolled because no condition, limiting numbers, was attached to the 1997 planning consent. HGVs travel through a heavily populated residential area which includes an infant school, a junior school and the largest secondary school in Surrey. As well as schoolchildren being put at risk, so too are pedestrians, horseriders and motorists.
See "Latest News" for coverage of the Chalkpit review story.
Also click here and
What you can do:
Reporting dangerous driving:
Surrey Police: 0845 1252222 (note registration number)
Reporting other highways concerns:
Surrey County Council:
Ian Gray, Enforcement and Monitoring Team Leader 020 8541 9423
Alan Stones, Planning Development Control Team 020 8541 9426
Reporting incidents to do with infill, spillages, damage to local environment etc:
Environment Agency:
24hr Incident Hotline 0800 807060
(note registration number, contractor, time/date of incident, description of driver if possible)
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August 2011
CHALKPIT POSTPONEMENT REFUSED
After a blitz of letters from horrified residents, Surrey's minerals bosses have refused the application to postpone the Chalkpit review. It means the review of the planning conditions for the quarry will go ahead as scheduled.
It's a tremendous result for people power and reflects the huge response to the news that Southern Gravel was trying to get the review postponed for ten years. In the last two weeks, residents have bombarded the County Council with emails and letters, detailing why a postponement should be refused.
These were not just standard letters but heartfelt, personal experiences. Some of them were quite disturbing with details of near misses, children at risk, verbal abuse by drivers and environmental damage. They painted a frightening picture of just how bad the situation is.
The County Council's refusal letter to Southern Gravel says the existing conditions are not satisfactory and adds: ''.. there is extensive evidence of concern from local residents with respect to the impact of HGV traffic on the locality and many letters of objection have been received to this application to postpone.'
It's really good news that local views have been listened to click here
What happens next
Southern Gravel has until 11 June 2012 to submit a scheme of new conditions for the Chalkpit, to the County Council, for approval. If no scheme is submitted then the existing planning permission will come to an end, apart from the requirement for any restoration of the site or aftercare.
If a scheme is submitted, residents will be consulted on it and this will be a chance, at last, to get proper conditions put on the consent. OLRG will, with the help of its lawyers, draw up a response which will include the additional controls that residents want to see brought in.
All the letters have given a good idea of the controls that are wanted - things like limits on lorry numbers, size of lorries, hours of operating, intervals between lorries, speed limits, routing, environmental safeguards and, very importantly, proper enforcement of any agreed new scheme.
Please do send us details of anything you think should be included by emailing oxted.residents@btinternet.com or writing to: OLRG, PO Box 233, Oxted Post Office, Station Road West, Oxted, RH8 9EH
Residents have been campaigning for years to end the dangers posed by the uncontrolled numbers of quarry lorries. It's a miracle that no-one has been killed or seriously injured.
The Chalkpit has been very busy lately and many members have been in contact about near misses, dangerous driving and abusive behaviour. Recently, one lady had a shopping bag knocked out of her hand by a lorry which mounted the pavement and there was a close shave with a mother and toddler when the child bent down to pick something up from the pavement.
The number of lorries is uncontrolled because no condition, limiting numbers, was attached to the 1997 planning consent. HGVs travel through a heavily populated residential area which includes an infant school, a junior school and the largest secondary school in Surrey. As well as schoolchildren, pedestrians, horseriders and motorists are all at risk.
To read and listen to recent coverage of this story see the first two "headlines" on the website home page.
Also click here and
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July 2011
CHALKPIT QUARRY - WRITE IN NOW
Residents fear 10 more years of HGV hell after the Chalkpit Quarry operator applied for a postponement of a review of the planning conditions.
Southern Gravel Limited has asked Surrey County Council to postpone the review, due in June next year, for 10 years - until June 2022.
The County Council is now deciding whether to allow or refuse this application.
If it is allowed, things will carry on as they are with intolerable numbers of HGVs and extreme road safety dangers. It is a miracle that no-one has been seriously injured or killed by the lorries.
If it is refused, there will be a review of the planning permission in June 2012 with a chance, at last, to get proper conditions restricting the lorries.
The County Council has decided it will not consult the public about the application for a postponement. We have asked the council to reconsider, but it has said no.
Therefore, the only way to make public opposition known is to email the men in charge as soon as possible, before any decision is made.
Please write in because residents have had years of hell from these lorries and now the chance to put a stop to it is under threat. If you want the application refused please email: alan.stones@surreycc.gov.uk and stephen.jenkins@surreycc.gov.uk saying why you think the existing situation should not continue. (we'd be grateful if you would copy in OLRG at oxted.residents@btinternet.com)
The Chalkpit has been very busy lately and many members have been in contact about near misses, dangerous driving and abusive behaviour.
If you have suffered any of these things, please include the details in your email.
The numbers of lorries currently using the Chalkpit are uncontrolled because Surrey County Council did not attach any condition, limiting numbers, to the 1997 planning consent. The route to the quarry takes HGVs through a heavily populated residential area which includes an infant school, a junior school and the largest secondary school in Surrey. Residents say that, as well as schoolchildren, pedestrians, horseriders and motorists are all at risk.
What you can do:
Reporting dangerous driving:
Surrey Police: 0845 1252222 (note registration number)
Reporting other highways concerns:
Surrey County Council:
Ian Gray, Enforcement and Monitoring Team Leader 0208 541 9423
Alan Stones, Planning Development Control Team 0208 541 9426
Reporting incidents to do with infill, spillages, damage to local environment etc:
Environment Agency:
24hr Incident Hotline 0800 807060
(note registration number, contractor, time/date of incident, description of driver if possible)
Making general comments on your experience of living with the lorries and how you think next year's review can improve things:
Nick Skellett, Surrey County Councillor for Oxted: email n.skellett@surreycc.gov.uk
Martin Fisher, Tandridge District Councillor, Oxted North: email cllr.martin.fisher@tandridgedc.gov.uk
The review should be a chance to improve the situation so do make Surrey County Council fully aware of your problems and your expectations.
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April 2011
REVIEW OF PLANNING PERMISSION
In June 2012 there is a chance to review the planning permission for Chalkpit Quarry and to introduce new conditions. In May 2012 there will be a consultation period when residents can make their views known. Hopefully this will lead to an improvement in the current intolerable situation. Surrey County Council is now in the process of giving notice of the review to the Chalkpit owners.
The current permit, issued in 1997, does not include conditions restricting the number of lorries bringing infill to the site on a daily basis, their size or their routes to and from the site. Surrey County Council should have imposed such conditions but didn't. We hope the review will put this right.
Many residents have been in contact recently about the fact that the Chalkpit has been particularly busy this year. There has been a noticeable increase in the number of lorries, including drivers using inappropriate routes and driving in a dangerous manner.
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Background
The Oxted chalk pit has an old planning consent for unlimited extraction of chalk originating from an interim development order in 1947 which was "modernised" in 1997 by adding certain controls such as times of operations, access design and protection of the public highway.
In 2006 the Environment Agency issued a waste disposal licence to Southern Gravel for importing 100,000 tons a year of inert materials including construction rubble. This conflicts with the planning consent in as much that the consent restricts infilling of the quarry to clean soil or natural minerals (such as chalk) but excludes construction rubble.
Complaints from residents began in June 2007 at a time when the railway bridge at the southern end of Chalkpit Lane was closed for repairs and traffic had to divert through Gordons Way and other residential roads. The hope then was that the opening of the bridge on 14 August would alleviate some of these problems. But it is now seen that the main cause of the problem was not the diversion but the sheer scale of HGV movements and the inconsiderate behaviour of many drivers. At their peak there were 80 separate lorry movements a day.
A number of meetings were held with County Councillors and Highways officials to discuss the problems and to explore the options available to eradicate or at the very least alleviate the nuisance caused by the lorries. However, Surrey County Council's view was that there was very little that could legally be done to stop operations at the quarry. They said that the best that could be done would be to introduce traffic calming measures to reduce the speed of the lorries.
The Current Situation
Operations at the Oxted Quarry increased significantly last year and many more Heavy Goods Vehicles began accessing the site. Local residents and members expressed concerns and the Local Committee considered the matter on 7 May 2008. A further independent study has now been carried out and an Investigation Report has been produced for consideration by the Local Committee.
The Investigation Report recommends a staged approach including widening the quarry access, signalising Chalkpit Lane close to the bridge arch, providing traffic calming along Chalkpit Lane and re-routing outward HGVs via an improved Barrow Green Road. The estimated cost of these measures exceeds available budgets. It is therefore recommended that the measures be progressed subject to the availability of funding in the future.
The investigation report does not recommend proceeding with the one-way proposal for the northern section of Chalkpit Lane or the haul road leading on to The Ridge.
To view the whole report click here
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