Oxfordshire parishes against gravel extraction
Name of project
Drayton St Leonard, Stadhampton, Chiselhampton, Newington quarrying site
Describe the site currently, including details of protected or threatened habitat or species
The plans include quarrying through several large fields around Drayton St Leonard, Stadhampton and Chiselhampton in South Oxfordshire. The area is in the Oxford Green Belt, the land is managed under Countryside Stewardship Agreements, and the countryside is overlooked by 2 AONBs (Chilterns and North Wessex Downs). The river Thame watermeadows and floodplain landscape are a unique part of the South Oxfordshire countryside and offer significant biodiversity.
This floodplain landscape is occupied by Red Kite, Sky Lark and Corn Bunting, Reed Bunting, Linnet and Grey Partridge (all UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species) and Yellowhammer and Yellow Wagtail (both UK Biodiversity Action Plan Species of Conservation Concern). The winter flooded fields provide feeding grounds for wildfowl such as Berwick Swan, Whooper Swan, Greylag Geese, Pink-footed Geese, Bean Geese and White-fronted Geese. Both Smooth and Great Crested Newts have been found in the ponds which neighbour the fields under threat.
What development is proposed?
Large scale sand and gravel quarry and processing plant which would destroy prime agricultural land surrounding several rural villages along watermeadows of the River Thame, a main tributary into the River Thames in South Oxfordshire.
What one thing would help you or your group protect this site?
Join our Campaign Group - Parishes Against Gravel Extraction (PAGE) - by visiting our website to show your support or by joining our Facebook group or by following us on Twitter (links on our homepage). We are holding various fundraising events to raise money to fund our evidence-based approach to opposition using experts in archaeology, ecology, transport, landscape impact and geology. We will be holding fieldwalking events to help our archaeologists, and a Country Day for riders and walkers to in September. Parishes Against Gravel Extraction is an alliance of 8 Parish Councils in South Oxfordshire and has been campaigning against quarrying in the area since 2003.
Exact location
51.6623, -1.1389
Planning authority, and reference number of planning application
Oxfordshire County Council
Contact details for campaign group
Steve Thompson
PAGE Campaign - Parishes Against Gravel Extraction
steve.thompson@pagecampaign.org
www.pagecampaign.org
07909 504439
If you are the developer and would like to respond to this campaign, please email piece.by.piece@guardian.co.uk