I know from speaking with residents in Sudbrook that there has been a great deal of concern about the recent planning application regarding the quarry on Rookery Lane.
This is not a standard planning application, as permission for mineral extraction at the site was granted years ago and cannot be withdrawn through this process. Lincolnshire County Council have authority over planning to do with mineral development.
This site is being looked at under a process called a Review of Old Mineral Permissions (ROMP). This process allows local authorities to update the planning conditions attached to mineral sites, both active and dormant, in order to take into account modern standards of operation, environmental safety, and so on.
Therefore, LCC are not looking at whether or not to approve or refuse planning permission, but are instead looking at how to update the scheme of conditions on the existing planning permission to ensure any future mineral operations that may take place at the site are safe, environmentally sound, and have in place proper mitigation measures. What LCC will do is impose such planning conditions as they feel are needed, after public consultation; it will be up to the applicant to decide whether the site will be commercially viable to open once the new conditions are in place.
Whilst I have no direct influence over planning matters, as decisions are devolved to the local county councillors, I have been working with local residents to ensure that their concerns are taken into account. I have raised a number of concerns, including most recently the issue of pedestrian safety along Rookery Lane should the site reopen to HGV traffic, which would particularly endanger schoolchildren using the bus stop. I am glad that LCC are looking at options on this.
I will be keeping a close eye on this going forward, and expect a decision to be made on the planning conditions towards the end of this year. I appreciate that many village residents remain worried; I am always happy to help and will convey any concerns expressed to me to the council.
