As of 10 May, DCC's Consultation Portal was showing 476 respondents, of which 384 or 80.7% objected to the inclusion of Straitgate as a Preferred Site in the Minerals Plan. A summary of results will be provided by DCC at their Development Management Committee meeting on 6 June, and we expect this to include the responses from the statutory consultees.
In 1965, Straitgate Farm near Ottery St Mary in Devon was bought by ECC Quarries in the hope it would yield 20 million tonnes of sand & gravel. In 2001, Straitgate Action Group was formed to oppose the development and its potential harm to water supplies, ancient wetland habitats, protected species and much more. In 2023, Aggregate Industries – owned by Swiss giant Holcim – was finally granted permission to quarry just 1 million tonnes following a public inquiry. This blog records the story.