| Julian Clegg's Breakfast Show 13/01/2010 Interview with County Councillor David Harrison. Chris Carnegy sits in for Julian with everything you need to start your weekday morning.
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 Hampshire County Council has given permission for quarry activities to continue at Marchwood for a further 12 year period.
At a meeting of the Regulatory Committee today, members agreed by a narrow majority to agree an extension of time for operations to continue and for a new part of the site, much closer to woodland to be excavated.
The application was vigorously opposed by local County Councillor, David Harrison, who asked the committee not to approve the application because of concerns about continued HGV movements and the impact on the nearby woodland.
Local residents also submitted deputations, expressing similar concerns.
Councillor Harrison says “I’m upset but not surprised by the decision. Every time I have asked the Regulatory Committee to put the needs of local people and the environment first, they have decided otherwise.
This decision means HGV traffic will be thundering around Marchwood and Totton for years to come.
I’m also greatly concerned about the impact on the nearby woodland. The operators now have permission to excavate within 10 metres of this environmentally sensitive site”.
The woodland, called “Sparrows Copse” was a nesting site for Herons up to 4 years ago, but has now been abandoned by the birds, almost certainly as a result of quarry activity.
Councillor Harrison adds “It’s a deeply depressing outcome which only confirms the suspicion that Hampshire County Council really doesn’t care about Marchwood”.
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