Strong Objection to Proposed Lea Castle Sand Quarry in Cookley
Gail Blunn, a resident of Cookley, raises issues on environmental, health, mental health, community, historical, and personal grounds against the proposed Lea Castle Sand Quarry. The objections include threats to wildlife, impact on air quality and public health, loss of green spaces vital for mental health, disruption of community connections, and disregard for local historical interest.
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Objection to the proposed Lea Castle Sand Quarry Gail Blunn Resident of Cookley
Intro I would like to register my strong objection to the proposed Lea Castle Sand Quarry, on environmental, health, mental health, community, historical & personal grounds.
Environmental Sir David Attenborough recently highlighted Only 5% of creatures now living on our planet are wild The other 95% are humans or the animals we farm. We should be restoring not destroying wild habitats To destroy this natural habitat would be devastating to local wildlife which might never recover. Would impact on the woodland bordering the site all the species that live in the proposed site including deer & endangered species such as skylarks Increased traffic would be major pollutant on the roads Roads already in poor state with repairs/potholes.
Health Quarry is frighteningly close to several schools & residential areas. The increased pollutants in the air from quarry & traffic: bound to have a negative effect on people's health particularly the young, the old & the vulnerable. It is unfair & unnecessary to put people's health in jeopardy this way.
Mental Health Green spaces crucial for MH & need to be protected. Places with wide open skies rare Panoramic view from horizon to horizon as far as Malvern Hills. People of all ages access this space: o toddlers on first walks with parents, o elderly couples walking hand in hand, o people who stop to chat with horses & other people, for whom this may be their only contact with others.
Community This is a natural, wild space that links up the people of Cookley & Caunsall with the people of Wolverley, Sion Hill, & Broadwaters. Links up with other walking routes - eg the canal. Many people use the proposed site to walk dogs, go running, take their children on an adventure, & for practical purposes eg to access public transport from Broadwaters, or to get to school. To block off the route would leave local residents no easy access to the other communities, without using cars or public transport further contributing to pollution.
Historical Interest The site is part of local history & should be protected Lea Castle lost country house, demolished in 1945. Many of the local roads and parks are named after this house & the families who owned it. The remaining 2 gatehouses should be preserved as places of local interest, rather than further damaged & destroyed by quarry trucks thundering past all day
Personal Have walked there with my children since they were carried in pouch/backpack too little to walk! Now teenagers Daughter walks to Broadwaters to catch buses to college Son walks to school this way, also goes running Walking this route was essential to my family s health & mental health throughout Covid epidemic. For me personally it has been a part of my rehab following hospitalisation with Covid last year I walk there most days. Our only real access to countryside without needing to drive first. Also concerned whether people will move away from the area Become ghost town Negative impact the quarry will have on house prices & local economy.
Conclusion I feel that if it goes ahead, this quarry will: o separate off local communities o have adverse affects on health & mental health o destroy a wild place of beauty, peace & historical interest o kill hundreds, maybe thousands of wild animals & birds o Be a very real danger to school children, from increased traffic & pollution o Cause traffic chaos I sincerely hope the planners will find a more suitable & less impactful site from which to extract sand. Again thank you for giving me the opportunity to put my point of view across and have my voice heard today.
