LOCAL MP Jeremy Hunt has claimed that the future of the potential quarry site at Monkton Lane "lies in Waverley Borough Council's hands". The site is one of 18 shortlisted by Surrey County Council (SCC) as a preferred area to produce 2.62 million tonnes of primary aggregate a year. Mr Hunt had been pinning his hopes on the nearby Weybourne Local Nature Reserve (LNR) throwing a spanner in the works. During a site visit on Friday with English Nature officer Nick Radford, Mr Hunt hoped that valid ecological concerns would come to light. However, the LNR is not currently protected by either national or international statutory conservation status. Speaking during the visit, Mr Hunt said: "Nick has strongly advised us to seek local nature reserve designation for the site." "The key issue is for Waverley to strengthen the legal protection around the Farnham and Aldershot strategic gap. "At the moment, the strategic gap seems to be little more than a concept - it doesn't actually seem to have much protection. "We need to have a much stronger legal protection against development in the strategic gap area. "I'm going to be seeking an urgent meeting with the leader of Waverley, to ask her whether she would be willing to work with me to strengthen that protection." Asked if he was optimistic about the future of Monkton Lane, Mr Hunt replied: "It's too early to say, but the only thing we have in our favour is that the planning process for quarries is a very long drawn-out process. "They're not actually going to make a final decision until the spring of next year, so there's potentially time, but to me it's very clear that the future of this site lies in WBC's hands. "If WBC is prepared to do everything it can then there is a small chance that we can get it taken off the list. But without help from WBC, it's very unlikely." Responding to Mr Hunt's assertion, council leader Gillian Ferguson said: "I would say that's a bit strong - it is SCC's minerals plan and they are the ones who take the decision." However, Miss Ferguson pointed to another possible reprieve in the shape of the imminent plans for a health club and relocation of Farnham Rugby Club at Monkton Lane. "There is a possibility of a planning application coming in which would stand alongside it, and then it would be a question of weighing up two elements; a quarry on the one hand and a rugby club on the other. "There is a limit to where you can put leisure facilities in Farnham on that scale, and that is one of the sites in Farnham that have been identified." Meanwhile, SCC published its feedback report last week, receiving some 67 objections from residents and organisations - including WBC. Objecting on ecological and local amenity grounds, the council spoke of "considerable disturbance to the Weybourne LNR" and the proposal being contrary to MC7 of the minerals plan." Referring to the strategic gap, WBC said that the "sensitive" land between Farnham and Aldershot is "intended to prevent coalescence of the urban areas by protecting the open areas of landscape". Other local bodies, including Farnham Town Council and the Weybourne Community Association opposed the choice of site, as well as numerous individual complaints from locals. Concerns include the presence of silica in the atmosphere, noise, damage to nearby wildlife, the potential decrease in property prices, encroachment into the strategic gap and the potential hazard for nearby children. Taking these concerns on board, Mr Hunt said: "It will be tough to pull this off, but I am determined to do anything possible to prevent these environmental eyesores."
