Today – just days after two similar incidents – another car crashed into the ditch near where the new cattle crossing is required for Aggregate Industries' scheme to quarry Straitgate Farm, a scheme that will put another 200 HGV movements a day onto this road.
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.