The dangers of the B3174 Exeter Road - the road Aggregate Industries is proposing to use for up to 200 HGVs a day for the next 12 years - were again evident this morning when a car collided with an electricity pole near Straitgate Farm. The road is expected to be closed for most of the day.
In 1965, Straitgate Farm near Ottery St Mary in Devon was bought by ECC Quarries in the hope it would yield 20 million tonnes of sand & gravel. In 2001, Straitgate Action Group was formed to oppose the development and its potential harm to water supplies, ancient wetland habitats, protected species and much more. In 2023, Aggregate Industries – owned by Swiss giant Holcim – was finally granted permission to quarry just 1 million tonnes following a public inquiry. This blog records the story.