RESIDENTS have voiced their outrage at plans to turn a former airfield in the middle of a Hampshire village into a quarry.
Hamble residents filled the village’s Memorial Hall as the county council launched an exhibition on its minerals and waste plan.
They raised their concerns, including traffic, dust and air pollution, at CEMEX’s scheme to convert Hamble Airfield into a gravel pit.
Emma Westmacott is chair of the residents’ association in Hamble.
During a meeting on Wednesday night, she said: “I think it is the fact that you have got an urban quarry in the middle of a small village.
“Anyone who lives there knows the roads are at capacity already.”
She also raised concerns over air pollution, dust, and flooding due to water running off the proposed quarry onto the gardens below.
“The value of people’s property will plummet. It will change the whole lifestyle.
“Hamble is a historic sailing village. To destroy a village like that. Who is going to want to come on holiday here?
“There are many small businesses in the village all will suffer with delays on Hamble Lane - from a customer perspective and transporting goods. I can’t bear to think about it."
A planning application is currently under consideration for the scheme after Hamble was outlined as an area for mineral extraction by the county council in 2014.
But thousands have objected since the application went in and are now trying everything they can to get the scheme refused.
One of those in attendance on Wednesday was Olympic gold medallist, Dani Rowe, who learnt to ride a bike on the airfield.
The cyclist said: “It is a huge space for kids to ride a bike. I come down here with my two-year-old.
“As soon as [the plans were] announced I wanted to get involved. The traffic as well. It’s going to be hugely impactful.”
Local politicians have also been supporting residents.
Eastleigh Borough Council boss, Keith House, has previously spoken out against the scheme and MP for the area, Paul Holmes, has also made his thoughts known.
Mr Holmes told the Echo: “I think it’s ridiculous that Hampshire County Council is having a consultation on whether Hamble Airfield should be included in its future minerals and waste plans when there’s currently a planning application going on.
“It is completely the wrong location to have 177 lorries a day going up and down Hamble Lane. It’s near a school.
“I’m delighted that the community are coming together and campaigning against it.
“I’m currently looking at whether I am going to formally call in, once the decision has been made, the application to the secretary of state to assess whether the right criteria have been looked at.”
READ MORE:
- Hamble Airfield quarry plans attract 700 objections
- Opposition grows over quarry plans at Hamble Airfield site
- Community leaders slam controversial quarry plans in Hamble
Chair of the parish council, Simon Hand added: “[The airfield] has a long and illustrious history which everyone is quite proud of.
“I think the predominant view would be for it to stay the same. A local doctor stated that he was concerned for the health of these children.”
Another resident attending was Jenny Austin who originally chaired the residents association.
“Dust is going to travel from the site. Boats are going to be filthy”, she said.
Whilst, Jonathan Taylor, a sailor in the area said: “It’s only going to strangle the village. My kids grew up here learning to sail on the river.
“I really hope it is never ruined. I think it will have an impact on everyone here.”
A spokesperson for CEMEX said: “CEMEX continues to work closely with Hampshire County Council in relation to our proposals for the former Hamble Airfield.
"We are currently in the process of reviewing and responding to feedback from a range of statutory consultees and the additional information will be submitted shortly for further consultation.
“Hampshire have a duty to provide sufficient sand and gravel for the County’s needs and have identified that they greatly need to increase their land-won aggregate landbank in order to meet this need.
"Hamble is in a good location, close to urban areas, allowing the site to sustainably serve the surrounding communities without HGVs having to travel long distances from elsewhere in the County.”
Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Eastleigh, Liz Jarvis ran a petition earlier this year on the quarry which received over 1000 signatures.
She said: "Residents have made it clear they don't want the gravel pits to go ahead.
"They are worried about the impact of the proposed gravel pits on the local environment, flooding, and the health of children and those with lung conditions which would be severely impacted by the congestion caused by the estimated 144 HGV lorry movements a day along Hamble Lane."
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