Cheers and applause as gravel pit plans rejected

EMOTIONS RUN HIGH AT PACKED COUNCIL MEETING - BUT 'COMMON SENSE PREVAILS'

- By JOE LOCKER Local democracy reporter

There was strong opposition to the quarry

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a quarry between Clifton and the River Trent have been rejected by officials - much to the delight of concerned residents.

After a heated Nottinghamshire County Council debate lasting nearly four hours, councillors voted against the proposals for a sand and gravel pit near Barton-in-Fabis, leading to cheers and applause from the public.

The decision, made at the end of the council's planning committee on Tuesday was widely welcomed by Barton residents.

Lucy Pollock said: "I'm really pleased because it felt like common sense prevailed and the councillors saw it logically like everybody opposed to it does.

"But I'm holding myself back from great jubilation because we've been here three times before. There's a decent chance they will appeal it. And while that site is in the Minerals Plan, there's every chance that somebody can apply again."

The sense of anticipation for Tuesday's decision was such that the car park at Oak House, Nottinghamshire County Council's new headquarters off the A611 near Hucknall, was completely full, to the point where arriving attendees were being directed to the road outside.

Inside the building, campaigners had dumped leaflets, posters, placards and banners, bearing the words 'Save The Quarry', on the reception desk.

The meeting room was packed to the rafters.

Before it began, Reform chair Russell Dodd went as far as to ask for peaceful proceedings, prohibiting banners and threatening any disruptive attendees with removal.