East Devon District Council has objected to Aggregate Industries’ planning application to quarry Straitgate Farm, on the basis that removing a large proportion of the grazing land for mineral extraction would lead to an intensification of livestock crossing the main route into and out of Ottery St Mary:
In the seemingly likely event that a need arises for increased crossings of the B3174, neither the existing crossing arrangements nor the approved arrangements are considered suitable given the speed of traffic, the advance visibility and the fact that delays to traffic on this road would adversely affect a large number of businesses, schools and people in Ottery St Mary, as well as the emergency services… Because of the failure to convincingly offset the impacts of the development, the proposal would be contrary to Policy NP14 of the Neighbourhood Plan and Strategy 50 and Policy TC7 of the Local Plan.
