Aggregate Industries is prepared to risk the natural spring water supplies around Straitgate Farm – relied upon by many, including Grade I Cadhay – without ANY idea what alternatives could feasibly be supplied, as its proposed unilateral undertaking confirms.
In its quest for an immaterial amount of sand and gravel – immaterial as far as any shortfall in Devon’s landbank is concerned – the company is prepared to risk permanently destroying a natural source of drinking water that has supplied local people for in some cases hundreds and in other cases thousands of years.
You can imagine the headlines if the worst were to happen. Aggregate Industries destroys centuries-old water supply to grade I listed tudor manor house, might be one. Aggregate Industries leaves more than 120 people not knowing how drinking water supplies will be replaced, might be another. Experts warned this would happen, another.
In fact, you don’t have to imagine. Water supplies were lost elsewhere in Devon last week – receiving the sort of media coverage you might expect.
The difference? In South Devon the loss is temporary. At Straitgate it could be permanent.
Water shortages continue for Devon households https://t.co/V29XDE6uTG
— Spotlight (@BBCSpotlight) December 2, 2022
Bottles of water are being handed out to vulnerable locals https://t.co/83EvPzlaDy
— Devon Live News (@DevonLiveNews) December 2, 2022
