Government decision on quarry plan delayed

The earmarked land sits between Ellenbrook and Smallford, near Hatfield in Hertfordshire

A government decision on whether an application for a quarry can go ahead on the site of a former aerodrome has been delayed.

Hertfordshire County Council was told to expect a decision by Monday on the application, which seeks to extract eight million tonnes of sand and gravel from the former Hatfield Aerodrome site over 32 years.

But on Monday afternoon they were told by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government that the decision had been delayed until 15 December.

A spokesperson for council said the authority was "disappointed" that the decision had been delayed.

The government has been approached for comment.

The council spokesperson continued: "We understand the impact this period of uncertainty has had on local residents and, like many in the community, we are keen to hear the outcome of the decision."

Campaigners are urging the Planning Inspectorate to throw out the appeal

Hertfordshire County Council last year turned down the latest application from Brett Aggregates for a quarry on the site, which sits between Smallford and Ellenbrook.

In doing so the authority highlighted issues such as the impact on the green belt, heritage, residential amenity, landscape character, biodiversity, public access, the highway and groundwater.

Brett appealed against the council's refusal and in November last year, the application was subject to a two-week planning inquiry, with the final decision to be taken by Steve Reed, the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service described that in the run-up to the inquiry, the county council withdrew its reasons for refusal.

On the opening day of the inquiry, the hearing was told the council now agreed that "subject to the imposition of suitable conditions" the appeal should be allowed.

A specially convened Colney Heath Group and others continued to argue against the quarry proposal throughout the hearing.

The planning inspector's report was passed to the secretary of state over the summer, a number of months after the public hearing had concluded.