Dozens of homes in well-to-do village face '20 years of misery' as quarry built ... trends now
View
comments
A tiny village is at war with the Church of England over plans to allow a quarry to expand to within 500ft of homes, causing misery for the next 20 years.
Grovebury Quarry, which sits on CofE land, has been in use for over 100 years, producing industrial sands for the construction industry.
It was due to close in 2019, with the area restored to create a recreational lake for activities including sailing.
But Church Commissioners – which is trying to find £100 million for slavery reparations at a time when parishes are struggling – has given temporary extensions to operator Aggregate Industries since then and has now allowed them to submit a planning application for the site to be extended.
A final decision is expected to be made by Central Bedfordshire Council later this year.
Grovebury Quarry (pictured) is run by Aggregate Industries who operate more than 60 quarries in the UK
Aerial photos of Grovebury Quarry in 2002 and 2009 showing how it has expanded over years and the barren wasteland left behind after sand is extracted
Aggregate Industries said the latest application included ‘hugely enhanced’ restoration plans for the land. Pictured: How Grovebury Quarry has changed between 2017 and 2022
Little Billington (pictured above) has a population of around 30 people. Pictured: The area in 1945
Around 30 homes in the well-to-do village of Little Billington will be ‘significantly’ affected, according to residents.
The quarry will be in use for up to 14 more years, with another six spent on restoration – during which lorries will transport millions of tonnes of earth to fill in some of the excavated ground.
