To get some idea of what quarrying 100 acres of "best and most versatile agricultural land" at Straitgate Farm would look like on Ottery St Mary's doorstep - if Aggregate Industries were to get its way - here's a photograph of the company’s operation at Venn Ottery.
For Straitgate, AI has made assurances that "extraction would be restricted to a dry working option" - at least for Phase 1 - but for those 100 people reliant on the wells surrounding the farm for their drinking water, for those concerned about streams flowing to wetland habitats in ancient woodland, and for those worried about birds and airport safeguarding issues, this photograph won’t bring any comfort. Because AI made similar assurances to the Environment Agency back in 1998*, saying that Venn Ottery "does not involve working below the water table" - and look at it now.
* [Development Control Committee 4.3.98, 97/P1588, ROMP Conditions 10/09/98]
