Opposition grows over quarry plans at Hamble Airfield site

Under proposals by CEMEX UK Operations Ltd, a quarry is set to be created at the former Hamble Airfield site.

If plans are approved more than one and a half million tonnes of gravel would be removed.

But those living in the area have told of their concerns about a number of issues including traffic, dust and even flooding.

Jo Nesbit-Bell, 51, runs the Facebook group, Hamble Against Development, where residents have been posting their concerns at the proposals.

READ MORE: Controversial quarry plans at Hamble Airfield site to be discussed

She said it will be a "massive loss" if the green space disappears and added traffic in the area is "a nightmare" already before work on mineral extraction has even started.

"It's going to be unbearable," she said.

"We won't be able to put our washing out, the noise.

Former Hamble Airfield site.

"I dread to think what would happen with lorries going up and down."

But a spokesperson for CEMEX said that by extracting the gravel locally it means that costs can be reduced as well as minimising the carbon footprint.

A statement said: "Extraction of minerals from Hamble Airfield would likely offer cost and proximity benefits to a host of upcoming residential, commercial, and community projects across Eastleigh, Boorley Green, Whiteley, and Southampton."

The area was included in the county council’s plans for sand and gravel extraction in 2013 and a public exhibition was launched last year.

Meanwhile, Emma Westmacott, 50, another Hamble resident said it's "absolutely ridiculous that they should be putting a quarry in the middle of a village".

"If you take all the gravel out of a high block of land you have no filtration or drainage into the earth so therefore it's going to get standing water on it which will flood down onto all those houses in Satchell Lane," she said.

"Hamble is one of the country's natural resources, it's one of the country's top yachting centres.

"It brings money into the country and if you start putting a quarry in there people aren't going to want to keep their boats there. Businesses are going to suffer."

Emma is now urging others to go to the Parish Council's website where details of the plans have been collected.

Eastleigh MP Paul Holmes has objected to the scheme, and said he is "completely opposed" to the plans. He said the proposal is in "absolutely the wrong location for this type of facility".

Jan Knights, 73, cares for the hedgehogs in the area and she raised concerns the wildlife on the site could be killed if the land is "torn up".

"It's not going to be devastating just for us homeowners but for the animals too," she said.

"There must be loads of animals living in there. Leave our space alone."

A spokesperson for CEMEX said it has met with parish councils and has consulted residents.

The company said the county council has already identified the site as being “the best option for providing a local supply of sharp sand and gravel".

The spokesperson added: “The environmental and amenity impacts of the proposals for Hamble Airfield have been assessed in detail, and the application demonstrates that there will not be any unacceptable impacts on the local community”.