WEYBOURNE villagers and local MP Jeremy Hunt are united in their stance against the installation of a quarry site at Monkton Lane. With several schools, playgroups and recreational facilities nearby, concerns have been raised about the long-term effects of silica, aligned with traffic concerns. As part of the government's mineral extraction plan, Surrey must produce a whopping 2.62 million tonnes of primary aggregate per annum. After experts originally provided Surrey County Council (SCC) with a list of 106 potential quarry sites, Monkton Lane remains one of just 18 "preferred areas". The Monkton Lane site consists of 18 hectares of open grassland, immediately to the west of the railway line and to the north of the A31. The issue has ignited enormous local discontent, with a packed meeting earlier this year followed by more than 3,000 submissions made on Monkton Lane to Surrey County Council during the consultation process. At a meeting last month attended by villagers, Mr Hunt joined Adrian Lynham, from SCC's minerals plan team and David Lamb, from the mineral and waste planning team to discuss the matter. Chosen to chair the meeting, villager Mike Probert outlined the fears of many. "With approximately 4,800 staff and students in the area, have you undertaken any research into the long-term effects of silica, which is a by-product of quarrying? "Playgrounds are used all days of the week and there are lots of physical activities for children. Our concern is what measures have you taken and have you investigated the impact of silica in the atmosphere?" Following Mr Lamb's assertion that everybody was "understandably angry" at being chosen as a potential site, he went on to estimate that a typical day would see between 100 and 200 lorry movements. Mr Hunt said this would not be acceptable given the residential density and the proximity of many local schools. "It is totally flawed to suggest that the local area should be subjected to such a dramatic increase in heavy traffic. "Not only that, but I have sincere concerns over what impact this and other relating quarry factors could have on local schoolchildren." Speaking after the meeting, Mr Hunt said he believed the community was going to have to unite together and work very hard in order to avert the threat of a quarry. He said: "I am sorry to say that since the meeting which I held with Adrian and David, I am more concerned than ever about the possibility of a quarry being located either at Monkton Lane. "However, I am glad that the council officers accepted our offer to visit the site and saw for themselves exactly what we are dealing with. I hope the site visit may have some impact on the decisions they are making. "We shall not let our pleas fall on deaf ears." Experts originally provided Surrey County Council with a list of 106 potential quarry sites. Monkton Lane and Eashing Farm are now two of just 18 sites which remain in the plan. "Adrian told us that he would be surprised if more than one or two of the remaining 18 were ruled out at this stage. We must fight immensely hard to make sure that both Eashing Farm and Monkton Lane make up those one or two which are ruled out." And Mr Hunt raised concerns about the level of Surrey's mineral output, as he explained. "I have done a lot of research into how these targets are allocated and to me the way they are worked out seem completely unsustainable. "They are merely based on how much a county has produced in the past and do not take into account mineral availability or a county's future needs. "Surrey is comparatively small compared to some other counties, which means mineral extraction sites are closer to residential areas such as in Monkton Lane, near Farnham. "Surrey is being forced to account for more than its fair share of minerals and I am immensely worried about the impact this could have in the future."
