Rivington Against Greenbelt Exploitation

RAGE

Public Meeting Jan 20th 2011

1. Introductions

2. Thank You

3. What is this Quarry stuff all about? - The Grand Plan

4. Situation update

5. What can we do? – What can we say?

6. We need your help!

Agenda

• Armstrongs representatives ??

• Offer of a meeting made last time not honoured

• Press

• Council Officials

• BHEAG - Blackrod & Horwich Environmental Action Group

• www.bheag.co.uk • RAGE - Rivington Against Greenbelt Exploitation

Introductions

• All for attending

• BHEAG

• Saving us so far

• Sacrificing Christmas working on the appeal & planning application

• Leaflet distributers

• Shows what more people can achieve

Thank You

Montcliffe & Pilkington Quarries

Rivington Pike

Georges Lane

Chorley Old Road

APPROVED Pilkington Quarry Extension

M 61Chorley New Road

Stone to be removed between 2 quarries

Contaminated & Unstable Buttress APPROVED extension to

Pilkington

Montcliffe to be used for HUGE ‘recycling facility’

Pilkington to be used for dumping material that can’t be recycled

The Grand Plan• Montcliffe and Pilkington Quarries are both operated by Armstrongs

• Obvious concerns (fires, conviction, fines) not relevant to planning

• Create a huge ‘recycling’ and waste tip facility

• Knock through between Montcliffe & Pilkington creates mega quarry

• The mega quarry may create the ‘very special circumstances’

required for Greenbelt development

• Cannot be achieved in one planning permission

• Over development in green belt

• Smaller step by step planning applications used instead

Pilkington Planning Applications• 80931/08 – Rejected Oct 2009 – Appeal withdrawn

• 83299/09 – Granted Oct 2010 – Judicial Review - Quashed

• 83999/09 – Granted Oct 2010 – Judicial Review - Quashed

• 84065/10 – Granted Jan 2011 – Judicial Review???

• Bad news - could be the start of the master plan

• Good news – work will be visible, easier to gain huge public support

• Question – Was this granted in order to stop the appeal?

Pilkington Extension• 84065/10 – Stone extraction for 15 years until December 2026

• MONEY MORE IMPORTANT THAN RESIDENTS & THE RIGHT DECISION• “This will get passed on appeal and us turning it down today just gives the residents false

hope and means that the taxpayer will be left with a bill.” Cllr Guy Harkin

• Flawed argument – if planning decision is correct then no grounds for appeal or costs awarded

• ON OUR SIDE• ‘launching a tirade against Armstrongs - “I know I am not allowed to say it, but there is

nothing to stop me thinking it.” Horwich North East Cllr Barbara Ronson

• TIME TO SPEAK UP• Residents shouted “shame on you” and “disgrace” as they left the council chamber.

Appeal Withdrawn Bolton News 15th January 2011

Application 80931/08 refused permission - October 2009.

Appeal was an expense Bolton Council wanted to avoid (so passed 84065/10?)

David Armstrong, chairman of the company, said: “it allows us to get started. We

would not have withdrawn it if we had not got the other permission.”

Armstrongs requested adjournment but the inspector refused & gave 3 options:

1. Withdraw the appeal

2. Come up with better proposal – not enough time • Would require Armstrongs to secure presence of Environment Agency at the inquiry to support their

position – unlikely!

3. Continue with appeal – (high risk of losing)

Appeal process has provided us lots of valuable information to help us fight

Armstrongs• We are NOT fighting Armstrongs, we ARE fighting proper planning that considers

planning law, the environment and local residents... but....

• Bolton News reported in Jan 2011 - Armstrongs found guilty of:• Breaching environmental permit • Failing to comply with an enforcement notice

• Two day trial at Bolton Magistrates’ Court - the court heard • Waste on Armstrongs land had not been correctly stored• Could pollute water or cause a smell

• Armstrongs pleaded Not Guilty to two charges and said:• The Environment Agency official lied• There was no smell!

• Mr McCarthy Environment Agency said: • “Having regard to the number of complaints from members of the public about the

smell coming from this site we are very pleased our efforts have resulted in a successful prosecution.”

Judicial Review• 84065/10 – Granted Jan 2011 – Judicial Review???

• Legal review in the courts of planning decisions

• Buxtons Solicitors – Environmental & Public Law Specialists

• Threat of JR and strength of case led to 2 planning permissions

being quashed

• Solicitor funded by some local residents & bheag

• Donations very welcome & necessary

• The legal case against 84065/10 is currently being reviewed

Montcliffe Quarry• Was run well by Hanson’s and due to close in 2011 & restored.

• Responsibility for extraction and restoration of transferred from

Hanson to GCN LTD – registered at Armstrong’s on Chorley New

Road

• Has permission to build a road, extract & restore (fill in?)

• Extraction end date is currently 21st September 2011

• Need to watch for any temp permission while moving out of

Chorley New Road.

What can we do?• Try and defeat each quarry planning permission

• Environmental issues – water, waste, noise, dust, visual

• Traffic movements

• Green belt

• Removal of public footpaths

• Planning process

• Judicial review

• Let Bolton Council know we mean business & won’t go away

• Hearts & Minds – Save Rivington & the West Pennine Moors !

What can we say?• We want to stop Rivington becoming a giant waste dump for

Manchester!

• We are concerned about the environmental impact of plans

that have been passed

• We want the voice of local residents to be heard

• We are very concerned that more planning permissions will be

applied for – working towards the master plan

Visibility & Fundraising• Raise the profile – showing support

• Badge,

• Window Poster

• Later? T-shirt, hat, hi-viz jacket

• Getting Organised

• Charitable status – RAGE

• Bank account & trustees

• Cheques payable to.. Rivington Against Greenbelt Exploitation

We need your help• Expertise Legal, Planning, Environmental

• Photographs Photos of lorries on Chorley Old Road etc causing a nuisance

Or - scenic pictures of Georges Lane & West Pennine Moors

• Research Reading documents, finding issues, errors & inconsistencies

• Documents Evidence of promises / commitments made by prior quarry operators

• Campaigners Organise support, leaflet drops

• Fund Raisers Coordinate donations, fund raising events

• Treasurer Proper accounting of all funds raised & spent

• Communication Coordinate emails, updating people on developments

• Administration Follow up meetings, coordinate volunteers etc...

• Supporters Who do you know? Neighbours, interest groups e.g. Cyclists, fell runners, horse riders, ramblers

• Facebook Run the page, updates, photos, comments...

Please let us know of any expertise you have that could be useful

Next Steps• Monthly meetings to keep all up to date

• Consider Judicial Review for recently approved planning

• ACTIONS

• Please volunteer to help

• Please support fundraising, donate min £2 for a badge & WEAR IT!

• Display ‘STOP the QUARRY’

• Georges Lane questionnaire for PR research

• Next meeting Thursday, March 3rd 2011

• Good Friday event (22nd April)