Somerset County Council Minerals Planning Options Paper Officer Response to Responses March 2012 Page 1 of 193 Document Control Sheet Reviewed and approved by Paul Browning: Planning Policy Manager (04/06/2014) Minerals and Waste Policy Team Somerset County Council Environment Directorate PP C601C County Hall Taunton TA1 4DY ℡ 0845 345 9188 [email protected] www.somerset.gov.uk/mineralsandwaste Page 2 of 193 Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................... 4 1 Vision and Plan Objectives ........................................................................ 7 2 Aggregates .............................................................................................. 23 3 Peat ......................................................................................................... 91 4 Building Stone ........................................................................................ 117 5 Mineral Safeguarding Areas .................................................................. 136 6 Development Management .................................................................... 151 7 Additional Comments ............................................................................. 159 Page 3 of 193 Introduction This document contains details of the representations made on the Somerset County Council Minerals Options Paper during the consultation period 15 th December 2011 to 12 th February 2012. The consultation documents were published on www.somersetconsults.org.uk and were accompanied by a questionnaire. The County Council's Minerals and Waste policy team encouraged respondents to reply via this website if possible and provided printed copies of the consultation document via Somerset’s libraries and Council Offices or on request. The team promoted the consultation via email and letter mailings, as well as through the Somerset County Council website. Local media were involved, presentations were given at district and parish events, briefing notes were circulated at district and parish events, and meetings were arranged with consultees. Postcards were sent out to approximately 3000 residents who live in, or in close proximity to existing minerals consultation areas – highlighting that the Minerals Options consultation was underway and how to get involved. Prior to the consultation, all consultees (contactable by email) were emailed to determine how they wished to be notified of the Minerals Options consultation. This helped to shape the approach to consultation and engage in an optimal way. National Policy At the time of writing this document the final National Planning Policy Framework had not been published. Therefore the collation and consideration of all respondents’ representations and SCC responses in this document are made prior to the publication of the Framework. The Preferred Options document for Somerset minerals policy will be informed by consultation feedback in this document and the evolving national policy framework. Page 4 of 193 Representation summary Representations were sought on a wide range of issues. 86 respondents replied, which can be divided into 1195 representations (individual comments). The majority of respondents supported the proposals outlined, beginning with broad support for the proposed Vision and Objectives, with some constructive comments made to ensure that the final wording is as clear as possible; in particular, several representors highlighted the need for further clarity in reference to "limits set by the environment" in Objective A, and the need to ensure each Objective does not try to cover too many different ideas - in particular Objective C needs to be reviewed with this in mind. Opinion was spread on the size of crushed rock landback, with some suggesting 10 years, some 15 years (in line with policy in the adopted Minerals Local Plan) and some 20 years or more. Opinion was also mixed when additional reserves are needed for a demand that cannot be met from existing reserves (Issue A2), the approach to take on managing the shortfall in sand and gravel reserves (Issues A4) and the restoration of sites (Issue A5). On this last-named matter, broadly the same number of respondents supported restoration of sites in the East Mendips on a site-by-site basis as supported a more strategic landscape approach. There was strong support for the supply of local building stone for local demand, whilst recognising markets outside of the County and the need to support the building stone industry to maintain its economic viability. Furthermore there was support for the mineral types listed for safeguarding. There was general consensus that no further peat permissions should be granted. This aligns with the direction of national policy, in particular the emerging National Planning Policy Framework. And there was broad support for the coverage of Development Management topics proposed. In addition, comments were welcomed on a range of other issues including, but not limited to: • dormant and abandoned minerals sites in Somerset; • the importance for restoration of all minerals sites taking an holistic approach that where possible seeks to reflect changes in the industry, national planning policy, and new biodiversity targets and initiatives; • the importance of Somerset’s water resources, especially the Mendip Hills groundwater resource; and • ensuring that the County Council has a robust framework in place to consider the potential of oil and gas extraction in Somerset.. Page 5 of 193 Below is a summary of the number of representations received to the questions presented in the Minerals Options consultation Question Number of representations number 1 71 2 65 3 32 4 62 5 29 6 60 7 26 8 30 9 32 10 49 11 68 12 34 13 66 14 27 15 25 16 59 17 20 18 48 19 51 20 19 21 85 22 26 23 30 24 31 25 36 26 28 27 29 28 57 Total 11 95 Please note : A full set of representations is presented below, together with a response from the Minerals Planning Authority as to how all comments have been considered. Some representations contain spelling or grammar errors. Representations have been reproduced faithfully so as not to inadvertently alter or nuance the intended meaning. Since writing this document in accordance with the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework and the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, the emerging Somerset Minerals Core Strategy has been renamed the Somerset Minerals Plan. However, this document has not been updated to reflect this change and still refers to the Minerals Core Strategy. Page 6 of 193 1 Vision and Plan Objectives The Minerals Options Paper included the following vision and plan objectives… Vision for mineral extraction in Somerset : To ensure sustainable supply and use of minerals to meet society’s needs without unacceptable impact upon Somerset’s environment or communities. Objective A: To ensure that Somerset is able to provide an adequate and steady supply of minerals in accordance with government guidance in order to contribute to national, regional and local requirements within the limits set by the environment. Objective B: To protect Somerset’s residents from impacts on human health associated with minerals extraction and transportation whilst recognising the benefits of the minerals industry, including provision of jobs. Objective C: To protect the natural and historic environment of Somerset from impacts associated with minerals extraction and transportation recognising the potential for increased conflicts of interest due to climate change, particularly on the water environment, and opportunities for positive land use change in the long term. Objective D: To promote the efficient production and use of primary minerals, together with the minimisation of waste, increased substitution of alternative materials, and appropriate timing of release of reserves thereby reducing the impact of mineral production on climate change and protecting finite resources. Objective E: To reduce the impacts arising from minerals transportation on local communities and the climate by maximising opportunity for mineral movement by rail or water. Objective F: To seek a positive contribution from the minerals industry whilst sites are operational in terms of improved carbon management and ongoing and final site restoration incorporating environmental and community enhancements such as, biodiversity, geo -diversity, landscape, recreation and access. Page 7 of 193 Objective G: To bring together the minerals industry and local communities to identify and implement suitable reclamation schemes at dormant or abandoned mineral workings that are problematic and unlikely to work again, for the benefit of local communities or the environment. Objective H: To avoid the unnecessary sterilisation of valuable mineral resources by other types of development. Question 1: Do you agree with the vision and objectives? Summary of responses to question 1 6% (2 responses) Agree Disagree 94% (31 responses) Page 8 of 193 Detailed Responses Rep Respondents’ comment s MPA Officer response s ID (in this section, the letters refer to the different Plan Objectives) R9.3 We are pleased with both the Vision and Objective C of the main Noted. document. R12 We support the need for minerals development in Somerset to avoid The potential to enhance the quality of the natural environment and unacceptable impacts to the environment. It would also be helpful to quality of life for communities