Mining sites unveiled by council

Staffordshire's planners have unveiled a list of potential sites in the county which could supply the minerals required to meet industry needs for the next decade.

The 35 proposed new sites are to be discussed at the county council's planning committee on Thursday. The council has an obligation to meet targets set by the West Midlands Regional Assembly – based on national projections – for the provision of sand and gravel. The Government's policy also requires clay provision to supply local brick and tile factories.

In September last year the minerals industry was invited to submit a wish-list and now the council has the difficult task of matching the proposals with the nationally determined targets and policies for maintaining production of minerals.

Each site will have to be judged on whether it meets the needs of the national targets, whether they are sustainable and environmentally acceptable, and whether they can practically be worked within a 20-year time frame.

The next step involves a major public consultation in the summer – setting out the issues, the sites and the interests and constraints that the county will have to balance.

Of the 35 proposed sites, 22 are for sand and gravel, of which 14 are extensions to existing sites.

There are 11 proposals for clay extraction, six of which are extensions. Two sites have been submitted for opencast coal and two for silica sand extraction.

Planning committee chairman Councillor Roger Smith said: "Minerals extraction is a very contentious issue. Everyone wants the benefits which development brings, but local communities don't want the foundations of that economic prosperity to be extracted from their local fields.

"Everyone will have the chance to have an input into the decision making process.

"It is never too late to get involved and people can put their names down to join in the process now," he said.

Further details of the individual applications will be posted on the Staffordshire website soon, but anyone who wants to register as a consultee should e-mail planning@staffordshire.gov.uk or ring 01785 277275.