For the purposes of Devon's new Minerals Plan, Aggregate Industries has finally supplied DCC with two reports, a Hydrological Position Statement and an Overview of Landscape Proposals and Aftercare, to show that, in its view, Straitgate Farm is workable and that DCC can rely on it as a Preferred Site for sand and gravel extraction. DCC will send the reports to consultees for scrutiny, including the Environment Agency, Natural England and Exeter Airport. AI has sent copies of the reports to us, and we will provide an update in due course.
The hydrological report will obviously be preliminary in nature since detailed and long-term water measurements have yet to be taken, and some piezometers yet to be installed. Without such data, it is unclear how the report can be relied upon to demonstrate that private water supplies will be protected or stream flows to ancient woodland maintained.
