Disappointment at approval of quarry plans

Hampshire County Council initially turned down Cemex's proposal to extract 250,000 tonnes of sand and gravel at Hamble Airfield

Residents have expressed sadness and disappointment about a decision to approve plans for a quarry near their village.

Hampshire County Council initially turned down a proposal in May 2024, by the construction materials company Cemex, to extract 250,000 tonnes of sand and gravel at the former Hamble Airfield site.

But on appeal, the company has now been granted approval by the planning inspector who decided there would not be "an unacceptable impact on highway safety".

Hamble Valley MP Paul Holmes has written to his constituents saying that "while this is not the outcome we were seeking, it is not the end of the fight".

Thousands of residents opposed and protested against Cemex's proposal

County planners originally refused permission for the quarry due to flood risks, highway mitigation issues and a late objection from Natural England over air quality.

But during the Cemex appeal, the council's head of development management Lisa Kirby-Hawke said the company had been able to provide additional information and resolve the issues raised over flood risk and air quality.

She said they could no longer resist the appeal because the evidence was showing them that the reason for the refusal had been addressed.

But Hampshire County Council's change of position was questioned by local campaigners who highlighted the fact that the council's concerns over highway mitigation were still outstanding when it published its statement of case.

Residents expressed sadness and disappointment at the news of the decision

The appeal hearings took place between April and June, with thousands of residents fighting the application.

The report outlining the final decision said the proposal "wouldn't cause a severe residual cumulative impact on the road network."

It also concluded that there would not be a significant or demonstrable impact in terms of noise, dust, or poor air quality, nor would the quarry hurt the area or the living conditions and health of those living nearby or using educational facilities.

Hamble Parish Council announced the decision in a Facebook post where residents expressed sadness and disappointment.

In his letter, the local MP Paul Holmes said he thought the county council had "behaved disgracefully in abandoning Hamble by not opposing the planning application at the subsequent Inspectorate hearing".

"From the beginning, I have argued that the quarry is not workable in our community, arguments you have all heard and made many times over these past few years," he wrote.

He said he would discuss the possibility of appealing to the High Court with other parties such as Hamble Parish Council and Hamble Peninsular Residents Group.