Protesters celebrate as firm drops sand extraction plan (From Herald Series)

Protesters celebrate as firm drops sand extraction plan

7:04pm Monday 23rd November 2009

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CAMPAIGNERS battling against a soft sand extraction site in Longworth, near Abingdon, were celebrating tonight after the applicant withdrew the plan.

Hanson Aggregate, which wanted to extract 1.1 million tonnes of sand over 10 years, withdrew its controversial application an hour before Oxfordshire County Council’s planning and regulation committee was due to vote.

The proposal involved cutting a two-lane section of the A420 to one lane for half a mile to improve safety at the entrance to the site, off Pine Woods Lane.

The company also wanted to reduce the speed limit from 70mph to 50mph through the area.

It had been recommended for refusal by officers.

Prof Adam Ogilvie-Smith, of campaign group Lane not Sand, said: “It’s a moral victory because Hanson knew if it went to committee it would get rejected.

“We’re happy they’ve withdrawn the application but it’s terrible they’ve done it at this late stage.

“We’ve won the battle but we need to make sure we win the war.”

Officers objected to the plans on the grounds that the need for soft sand could already be met by sites allocated by the council, and the extraction could damage produce grown at a nearby farm.

David Weeks, spokesman for Hanson, said: “We didn’t want to get to committee and get refused so we will look properly at what the officers have said and resubmit.”

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