Consultation to explore quarry sites

The next stage of a public consultation to identify future mineral reserves in Nottinghamshire starts at the end of October.

A meeting of the county council’s environment and sustainability committee is expected to give the go-ahead on Thursday for the publication of the Minerals Local Plan Preferred Approach – the latest step in the 20-year blueprint for quarrying in the county.

Mansfield and Ashfield residents will then be able to give their views in a consultation which is set to take place between Wednesday, 23rd October, and Friday, 6th December.

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Preparation of the new plan began in 2011 and an informal public consultation took place last year, with more than 1,200 comments received from a total of 196 organisations and individuals, a council spokesman said.

These included statutory bodies, local district and borough councils, the minerals industry, interest groups and members of the public.

An updated Nottinghamshire Minerals Local Plan will look ahead to 2030 and set out the policy against which proposals for minerals development will be assessed.

Coun Jim Creamer, chairman of the authority’s environment and sustainability committee, said: ““Nottinghamshire is an important provider of various minerals. Sites are running out of reserves and we have a legal responsibility to find new resources.

“Wherever possible we are looking at opportunities to extend existing sites to keep the potential number of new quarries to a minimum.”