Lathbury Countryside Saved!

6.00.00pm GMT Sat 7th Feb 2004

Councillor Pat Seymour with Jane and Andy Carr and other local residents.

An appeal hearing has backed Milton Keynes Council's refusal of an application to extract sand and gravel from a site near the village of Lathbury

GFX Hartigan Ltd applied to MK Council for permission to extract sand and gravel from a site near the village of Lathbury. Local residents and the local Liberal Democrat councillor, Pat Seymour objected on many grounds such as:

• it is against the Local Plan & the Minerals Local Plan

• the area lies within the Ouse Valley Area of Attractive Landscape (AAL)

• trucks turning onto the B526 would make the road much more hazardous

• nearby residents could be affected by noise, vibration and dust

• and it would have a harmful impact on the appearance and character of the area.

MK Council agreed with them and it was turned down.

GFX Hartigan appealed against this decision. The Inspector agreed with the Council and dismissed the appeal. He said "there is no over-riding need which would justify permitting working in the Area of Attractive Landscape."

Local ward councillor Pat Seymour said, "I'm delighted. This is a victory for the residents of Lathbury and for local democracy. Together, we have been campaigning against digging up the Area of Attractive Landscape."

The draft MK Local Plan and MK Minerals Local Plan approved by the Lib Dem-run council, protects the Milton Keynes' Areas of Attractive Landscape from mineral extraction.