On the subject of Local Communities, Holcim UK – formerly Aggregate Industries – claims:
We’re a business with roots in neighbourhoods across the UK. We’re proud of the active contribution we make to the economic well-being of our communities. We also understand that we need to listen to the communities where we operate, and do what’s right for them to create positive social impacts.
In connection with its recent rebranding, the company produced a positioning statement: Making Sustainable Construction A Reality. The document claims:
We recognise that active community engagement is critical for managing our impact and regularly engage with resident groups to gauge their opinion.
Anna Baker, Holcim UK's Sustainability Director, is quoted as saying:
...we know that true value comes from listening to our neighbours and understanding what matters most to them. Working this way, we can succeed on all fronts without negatively impacting those closest to our sites.
Gauge opinion, understand the need to listen, etc, etc. Presumably the company wants to hear both sides of the argument – from both supporters and critics – otherwise what’s the point?
Holcim UK has given up posting on X, formerly Twitter – and why not, you might ask – but the company apparently still uses the platform "to answer any questions" – any question, that is, apart from ones from this corner of East Devon.
Aggregate Industries blocked Straitgate Action Group on Twitter in 2018 – proof that we rattled the giant in some way. When the world’s biggest cement company blocks a tiny action group, you know you’re doing something right. At the time, we wrote:
People will no doubt think that we must have bombarded AI with thousands of tweets to provoke such action. And if not, why not?Looking back though, we’re disappointed to find that we directed only 13 tweets to @AggregateUK in 2018, and just 9 in 2017. We really should have been trying harder!Plainly though, that was 22 tweets too many for AI and its social media experts; AI no longer wants to hear anything else from this group, thank you very much.
Since then the company has won permission to quarry Straitgate Farm; the fight should be over.
Given all the above, you might think that Holcim UK would now be prepared to listen to this community, as it seeks to become part of the neighbourhood in Ottery St Mary.
But more than six years on, we are still persona non grata and – at least on X – "blocked from engaging with them".
New name, same company.
