SURREY County Council identified more areas around Farnham as potential quarry sites at a consultation meeting last week, as local politicians traded insults over the issue.

In addition to the proposed site at Monkton Lane, revealed in The Herald last week, a number of other areas around Farnham were put forward as potential mineral extraction zones.

While no firm decisions have yet been reached, those mooted so far include a possible extension to the already controversial site at Alton Road, one at the South Runfold quarry, and the area of Bricksbury Hill, near the Sandy Hill estate.

Several other sites have been excluded for now, but are on the council's reserve list in case it fails to get others in the plan.

These include various zones around Frensham, including land near Frensham Manor, West End Farm, Broomfields and at Dockenfield. Other sites in Alice Holt Forest, Tankersford Common at Tilford and parts of The Bourne Woods are also on the reserve list.

The county council is required to produce a report identifying mineral zones in order to direct the extraction industry to sites in the county where, as the minerals planning authority, it believes that workings will cause the least damage to the environment.

The intention is that the Surrey Minerals Development Framework produced would only include sites where there is a reasonable prospect of future working.

Planning permissions would then be sought by the extraction industry in accordance with the Surrey Minerals Development Framework.

The Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for South West Surrey, Simon Cordon, has accused local Conservatives of "mind-boggling hypocrisy" over their failure to attend the meeting last week.

"Not a single Tory councillor was there," said Mr Cordon. "However, officers were there, trying to persuade us to accept plans by the Conservative-run county council for new sandpits all around Farnham."

Mr Cordon also criticised the lack of publicity for the meeting and the proposed sites.

Referring to the inclusion of an extension to the site at Alton Road, he said: "If people in Wrecclesham knew this meeting was taking place, this hall wouldn't be big enough. It's essential you consult properly.

"If these new meetings do take place, maybe this time the Tories will actually turn up."

Mr Cordon's opposite number from the Conservatives, Jeremy Hunt, said he is not surprised by his rival's comments and has dismissed them as 'an absolute nonsense".

"The reality is that there are many issues in which I oppose and will continue to oppose what Surrey County Council does if I think it's against the interests of the people in Farnham and South West Surrey," he said.

"It is my job to stick up for local people and if I have to take on Conservative-held councils or Lib Dem councils, I will do either."

Mr Hunt, who last week outlined the seriousness of Monkton Lane having being identified as a potential quarry site by Surrey, took a more measured stance this week.

He claimed that Mr Cordon is exaggerating what the county council is proposing.

According to the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate, the council is legally obliged to produce a report stating where minerals can be mined.

He stressed that the fact that sites around Farnham have been identified, does not necessarily mean they will end up as quarries.

"What we are saying is that we don't want this area to be picked as one of the places that is actually developed, because it would be bad for the area," he said.

"Simon is simply using this issue to score cheap party political points. It's a great shame, as this is something I had hoped we could have a united front on."

l Further information and maps of the zones under consideration can be found on the SCC website, http://www.surreycc.gov.uk">www.surreycc.gov.uk