An AMEC consultant today walked the Straitgate area assessing where best to position gauges for long-term monitoring of stream flows. Such gauges would not only inform any planning application, but also, if quarrying were to take place, highlight any changes to stream flows or response times to rainfall events as a result. During and after any potential quarrying, streams from Straitgate would legally need to maintain the same flow characteristics, so that wetland habitats in Ancient Woodland and downstream communities prone to flooding would be unaffected. It remains to be seen how this could ever be achieved.
Straitgate Farm near Ottery St Mary in Devon was bought in 1965 in the hope it would yield 20 million tonnes of sand & gravel. Straitgate Action Group was formed in 2001 to oppose a quarry due to concerns over water supplies, ancient woodlands, protected species, road safety and more. After finally gaining permission for just 1 million tonnes on appeal, Holcim UK – formerly Aggregate Industries – abandoned its plans in 2025. This blog records the long path to victory.