Minerals extraction can have serious consequences for the countryside. It destroys areas of beautiful landscapes and creates noise, dust and lorry traffic for a number of years.
We believe there are limits to the amount of quarrying the countryside can sustain and that by using resources more wisely, including using recycled aggregates, more landscape can be saved from destruction.
After years of campaigning by the Ramblers and likeminded groups, government published its revised Minerals Policy Statement 1 in late 2006.
Read MPS1 at the department for Communities and Local Government Website: www.communities.gov.uk
This is the overarching planning policy document for all minerals in England. It provides advice and guidance to planning authorities and the minerals industry and it will ensure that the need by society and the economy for minerals is managed in an integrated way against its impact on the environment and communities.
The guidance introduces a 'minerals hierarchy' that means new extraction of minerals should be a last resort after reduction, reuse and recycling of existing supplies of aggregate.
The government has predicted that the building of 3 million new homes is needed by 2020, which will have serious consequences for the countryside in terms of quarrying. The amount of material needed, not only to build the houses, but also to build the roads and other infrastructure which the communities will rely on will be phenomenal. We are campaigning for those communities to be built using more sustainable construction techniques and materials.
How you can help
If you are concerned about a development that you think will be detrimental to the area you enjoy walking in please contact your local RA group.
