Quarry Extension News.

Paxton Pits Nature Reserve.

The new sorting plant.

In August, planning permission expired for the 2002 extension plan that was delayed due to the recession when the site was closed. Now the quarry is up and working again so Aggregate Industries has  submitted a revised proposal to the County Council  that will take them up to 2029. Here are the basic points as I see them:

·         Much of the land in the scheme belongs to Oxford University, the rest belongs to the estate at Diddington.

·         The plan is very similar to the original one, by which Heronry North Lake, Island Pit, Pumphouse East Pit and Diddington Pit will become part of the nature reserve.  

·         The current excavation between the A1 and Boughton Lodge is expected to continue for 5 years. The arable fields to the west of the processing plant will be dug out over the subsequent two years to create large reed beds.

·         There is a period of landscaping and after care that will continue after extraction has ceased, hence the 12 year plan.

·         There are some amendments to the original plan. The biggest one is that Diddington Pit is to stay as one lake that will not be divided by a bund. The entire lake will come into the Reserve. A couple of short sections of path and cycle way have been slightly diverted around Diddington and the extent of reedbed creation has been slightly cut.

·         As part of a revised plan for the process of extraction, the company has asked to use modern diesel pumps, not electric ones, as they are more mobile. Each pump sits in a tray that catches any leaking oil.

·         Material is currently brought to the plant by conveyor but Aggregate Industries have asked to transport quantities in bulk within the site by lorry.

The Parish Council and the Friends have been consulted about the proposal. Of course the Rangers are really pleased to see our dream of a bigger reserve with more access for the public  draw nearer to being a  reality. Our main concern is to get access to the extension a bit at a time, rather than having to wait until all of the quarrying is over. 2029 is a long time away and we can’t see why the lakes that are away from the quarrying process shouldn’t be handed over now so that we can put in paths, signage and hides. The Friends of Paxton Pits Nature Reserve feel the same and this point has been supported by Natural England.

This is an extract from a statement by Aggregate Industries:

"The Company is proud to say the site reopened during 2016 and we are committed to completing mineral extraction which will help achieve the full aims of the restoration scheme. 
The quarry has three remaining extraction areas B, C and D which will be worked over the next 7 years. The remaining restoration includes agriculture along the western boundary, wetland / reedbeds adjacent to the sailing lakes, conservation grassland and woodland which in part will be incorporated into Paxton Pit Reserve.  The restoration scheme also sees improved footpath, cycle ways and bridleways." 

Mike Thomas, who is the chair of the Friends of Paxton Pits sums it all up by saying:

"The extension to the Nature Reserve would not only bring significant benefit to the wildlife in the area but would also expand what is now a valuable local resource to a significant countryside recreation area in south west Cambridgeshire."

 

Map showing restoration proposals.

Access map.