Sand and gravel quarry off M1 turned down

A plan to convert 38 hectares of land next to a village into a quarry has been turned down after 67 people objected to the proposal.

Mick George Ltd hoped to use land just off junction 16 of the M1 in Northamptonshire to extract sand and gravel over six years.

An estimated 1.15 million tonnes of material would be processed on-site near Upper Heyford over this period.

Despite a recommendation for approval from planning officers, West Northamptonshire Council refused permission.

The council's planning committee heard from Tony Williams of Nether Heyford Parish Council, who said: "In the village, we've got a lot of children and people are very worried about the potential health impacts."

In total, 67 members of the public from nearby villages submitted their objections to the application, raising concerns about the noise, effects on their amenities, air pollution from dust and potential health risks.

Nether Heyford, Upper Heyford and Flore parish councils also all submitted their objections to the application.

John Gough, a representative of Huntington-based Mick George Ltd, said neither Public Health England nor the council environmental health officer had "raised any concerns or objections" over the health impacts.

After hours of consideration, councillors ultimately decided to refuse the application, contrary to officers' recommendations.

Six members voted against the quarry going ahead, one abstained and five voted in favour.

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