The National Trust had wanted to buy Lea Quarry North at Wenlock Edge, a SSSI in Shropshire, from Aggregate Industries to "provide diverse opportunities for people, heritage, biodiversity, tourism and the economy". It was sold instead to Edge Renewables, who "chip wood from sustainably managed forests for renewable energy biomass incinerators". The National Trust opposed the retrospective planning application from Edge Renewables, as did Natural England, Shropshire Hills AONB and over 4000 others by way of petition. However, planning officers recommended approval and yesterday councillors voted to grant permission to the renewable energy business. The petition made no difference at all.
