Initial groundwater measurements taken on 25 January for AI's six piezometers have been supplied and range from 0.17m to 7.65m of water. Although the piezometers are in different positions to the 1990 drillings, the measurements approximate to earlier readings and confirm the same underlying groundwater flow from west to east, as expected. Further readings will be downloaded in due course.
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.