Hills Quarry Products Ltd.

Woodsford Quarry Liaison Committee.

Minutes of Meeting held on 14th October 2014 held at the Woodsford Quarry Office.

Present: Dorset County Council Mineral Planning Officer Rob Jefferies [RJ] Woodsford Parish Tony Meader [TM] Crossways Parish Council Dave Harris [DH] Hills Quarry Products Ltd Andrew J. Liddle [AL] Hills Quarry Products Ltd Steve Bowman [SB]

Circulation: Dorset County Council Mineral Planning Officer Rob Jefferies [RJ] Dorset County Council Archaeology Steve Wallace [SW] Dorset County Council Highways Ian Madgwick [IM] Crossways Parish Council Dave Harris [DH] West Dorset District Council Cllr Peter Stein [PS] West Dorset District Council Cllr Teresa Seall [TS] West Dorset District Council Environmental Health Officer Toni Archer [TA] West Dorset District Council Planning Officer David Hodges [DH] Knightsford Parish Council Frank Stanton [FS] Crossways Parish Council Stella Wilson [SW] Hills Quarry Products Ltd Andrew J. Liddle [AL] Hills Quarry Products Ltd Steve Bowman [SB] Hills Quarry Products Ltd Pete Andrew [PA] D. K. Symes Associates Douglas Symes [DS]

1. Apologies:

2. Matters Arising:

RJ –an invitation will be extended to Andy Canning to attend the next liaison meeting. RJ – confirmed IM was dealing with the completion certificate for the cycleway.

3. Site Development Report:

AL - the development continued to progress as planned. The extraction operation is now in part of Phase C & L and the field conveyor had been extended East another 100 metres into Area C Sales volumes of aggregate and concrete have been reasonable and showing some signs of an upturn. AL – the Earthmoving equipment was brought back to site in Jun/Jul 2014, to strip Area D & K. The soils from Area D & K are being direct placed in Area A for restoration and construct a bund along the northern limit of Area K.

3. REGULATORY MATTERS

A site visit was carried out by DCC – no issues were raised. RJ – There are continuing discussions regarding the proposed application for the extension to the silt management area. Noise surveys have been completed, with a number of exceedances noted at Watermead Cottage. From this and a subsequent meeting, it was agreed that the noise levels should be monitored and a review of the noise limits should be undertaken. The existing plant has been with a view to add mitigation to reduce noise impact further TM – asked what for an outline of what the proposed planning application will include. AL – covered the proposal. RJ – through the planning submission it will give DCC more points of reference and discussion.

AL - The temporary closure and diversion of the footpath FP 560/4 has been applied for now to give Rights of Way a couple of years to finalise. TM – asked why ‘Radar’ activated reversing alarms cannot be fitted to machines and tabled examples, such as Brigade “Backsense” radar system. AL – there is an overriding requirement under Health & Safety that all moving vehicles must be fitted with both audible and visual warning devices, which operate before the equipment moves. Hills are not prepared to accept the liability of operating equipment without audible warning devices. RJ – asked if the issue of reversing sirens can be clarified. AL – will get the ‘Better by Design’ specification of the Safequarry website and a comment form the HSE regarding the omission of an audible warning device for reversing vehicles.

Under the Provision of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 Regulation 17 – Section 3 states: (3) Every employer shall ensure where appropriate – (a) that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the operator of any control is able to ensure from the position of that control that no person is in a place where he would be exposed to any risk to his health or safety as a result of the operation of that control, but where or to the extent that it is not reasonably practicable; (b) that, so far as is reasonably practicable, systems of work are effective to ensure that, when work equipment is about to start, no person is in a place where he would be exposed to a risk to his health or safety as a result of the work equipment starting, but where neither of these is reasonably practicable; (c) that an audible, visible or other suitable warning is given by virtue of regulation 24 whenever work equipment is about to start.

4. ANY OTHER BUSINESS.

TM – regarding soil stripping – is there any restriction on time allowed per year? RJ – will check the planning permission.

TM – asked if we were still using flocculants. AL – confirmed that we are as per approval with the EA.

TM – when will the hedge line be reinstated along the footpath line? AL – Area A is currently undergoing restoration, the hedge will not be replanted for a couple of years.

TM – Archaeology – has anything of interest been uncovered. AL will circulate a summary of the findings before the next meeting.

The date of the next meeting was agreed to be Tuesday 14th April 2015 at 14:00 at the site office.

A reminder will be circulated to the liaison committee at the end of February