Chew Valley anti-asbestos campaigners to present report

MEMBERS of a Chew Valley action group are to present a detailed report opposing a second application for an asbestos landfill dump.

Campaigners are fighting against plans to dump 645,000 tonnes of the mineral at Stowey Quarry, near Chew Valley Lake.

Stowey Sutton Action Group was due to make its report public today and give further details about why it believes the renewed application should be turned down.

A previous decision to allow the application was quashed by B&NES planning committee in September after the council accepted it had not correctly followed the planning procedure in letting those living nearby know the details of the plan.

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But the applicant, Oaktree Environmental, has now re-entered the application.

Campaigners have until Thursday to object before the official consultation period ends.

Members have put together a detailed 18-page report on why they believe that B&NES should again turn down the application. The report goes through the negative effects the dump would have on the area.

Spokeswoman Lucy Pover said: "We believe the evidence to reject the application is overwhelming and we will continue to stress this point to B&NES.

"However, we also believe it is essential that the press and public have access to this information prior to a decision being made.

"There are only a few days left for the public to make their views known, and as the applicant has refused to meet and discuss the proposals in public, this conference represents a final chance for concerned residents to read and act on the evidence against the application.

"The evidence clearly shows that such a large asbestos landfill is not needed, the Stowey Quarry site is not suitable and the short and long-term health, environmental and economic risks to residents of the Chew Valley are completely unacceptable."

So far more than 2,170 signatures have been collected on the action group's paper and e-petition, and 134 objections have been registered on the council's planning website.

MP for North East Somerset Jacob Rees Mogg has strongly opposed the application, as have the local parish councils. Bristol Water has described the plan as "inappropriate" and objected because of the risk to the water source at Chew Valley reservoir, which provides water to homes across the Bristol and Bath area.

No one from Oaktree Environmental was available for comment last night.

A decision on the application is due to be made on May 2.

To find out more about the application – 10/05199/EFUL – see the planning part of B&NES' website.

For more information about the residents' campaign visit www.stop stoweyquarry.co.uk.