Anne Main MP has expressed her support for local residents who are opposed to plans for a quarry being developed at the former Hatfield Aerodrome Site and has raised residents’ concerns with the Principal Planning Officer at the Council.

Brett Aggregates has applied to establish a new sand and gravel quarry on green belt land at the former Hatfield Aerodrome site in Colney Heath.

The application to transform the site into a large quarry is being deliberated by the Hertfordshire County Council's (HCC) Development Control Committee. If the plan were to go ahead it would lead to the extraction of eight million tonnes of sand and gravel on the site.

St Albans MP and green belt campaigner Anne Main is alarmed by news that the planning application is being considered by local governing bodies. Anne has been made aware of local residents’ concerns and has written to HCC on their behalf.

The Ellenbrook Area Residents Association and the Smallford Residents Association, supported by other local residents’ associations and various local councillors, have been campaigning to stop a quarry going ahead.

Residents are worried that the impact of disturbing the bromate plume, located underground at the Hatfield Aerodrome site, is not being taken seriously by local regulatory bodies. There is a risk that the quarrying process could draw the bromate plume onto the site and contaminate the water supply used by locals.

Residents have also highlighted that development of a quarry could lead to increased traffic congestion along the Hatfield road as well as potential dust and noise emissions from the proposed quarry.

Mrs Main stated;

“I am very concerned that the planning application has been put back on the agenda particularly as the development of this site could have potentially harmful environmental and health consequences for residents.

The bromate plume has already affected the land and water supply in and around the local area and it is paramount we protect our green belt from this type of inappropriate development to prevent further risk to residents.”

“I will monitor the progress of this planning application and will continue engaging with the Ellenbrook and Smallford Residents Associations in their honourable campaign to fight against this environmentally damaging proposal. I will always listen to my constituents’ concerns when it comes to the unnecessary development of our precious green belt.”