Following the recent visit by Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman MP, who came to see the flood damage in Ottery St Mary and the newly built flood defence scheme at Thorne Farm Way, Hugo Swire MP also visited Ottery last week to see the affected areas. He too was briefed by the Environment Agency, and felt it important "that we double our efforts" to prevent a repeat.
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.