The planning committee for Rhondda Cynon Taf Council unanimously rejected plans to expand Craig yr Hesg Quarry, despite planning officers recommending approval.
The proposal for 10 million tonnes of pennant sandstone would have seen quarrying extended until 2050. The site had been earmarked in the Local Development Plan as a Preferred Area for mineral extraction. The proposal attracted objections from more than 400 people.
Quarry companies bang on about community relations. Let’s see how well Hanson's Craig yr Hesg Quarry – with its community web page – endeared itself to the local community.
Local schoolchildren voiced their opposition to the proposal:
The amount of dust that is coming from the quarry into our local area is harming our health. Air pollution is already at the world’s highest and you are contributing even more. Asthma is on the rise in schools in our local area. The noise from the quarry keeps local people awake. Would you like to be kept up all night from passing lorries and explosions early in the morning? Remember you are harming the environment and also harming us too. As a school, we took a vote and 150 children voted against the quarry. It isn’t just us disagreeing. It is the majority of our school. Remember you are harming the environment and also harming us too.
Councillors voiced their opposition too:
…the community had assurances previously which had been breached so why should this be any different? …whatever conditions are imposed won’t be kept as they “haven’t been in the past”…“We are told these things can be controlled but will they? It’s too big a risk to take.”…“We can’t ignore the voice of the child. “I am not persuaded that the dust from this activity will not create health problems in the future.”… 435 residents can’t be ignored… “if planning is about anything it is about people”…Wales has just declared a climate emergency and they need to be progressive in their thoughts.
Delighted that planning committee voted against expansion of Craig yr Hesg Quarry. One step closer to stopping it. Brilliant to have two children address the committee and their voices heard and listened to, thanks to the Future Generations Act. Falch bod y cais wedi’i wrthod— Heledd Fychan (@Heledd_Plaid) February 6, 2020
@Hanson_UK You are taking the p*ss out of the good people in this village community and have been doing it for years! Even my profile pic (from a year ago) is of one of your illegal HGVs endangering children in Radyr at school drop off time.— Wrecking Radyr (@WreckingRadyr) October 8, 2018
