Wiltshire Council's quarries consultation begins

A consultation has begun over plans to build seven new quarries in Wiltshire.

The seven sites have been short-listed from an original list of 62 sites and will be able to produce up to 1.2m tonnes a year until 2026.

Wiltshire Council has been told by the government how much sand and gravel it should quarry to meet local demand but it has produced its own targets.

The council has said it can produce 1.2m tonnes, which is less than the government's target of 1.85m tonnes.

'Right amount'

Wiltshire Council's Fleur de Rhe-Philipe, said: "After much work and extensive public consultation we believe we are right to challenge the government's guideline figure on how much sand and gravel should be quarried in the county.

"We feel we have identified the right amount needed to meet the expected demand up to 2026 - the period of the plan."

Five of the proposed quarries are in the north of the county, with one near Ashton Keynes and the rest close to Cricklade.

The other two include an extension to Brickworth Quarry to the south east of Salisbury, and one in Compton Bassett near Calne, close to the site of another existing quarry.

The public consultation will run until 12 March. The revised forecast set by the council will be considered by the Secretary of State.