New quarry planned as residents express dismay

4 hours ago

Tim Page

BBC News, West Midlands

The new site would be near the previous Ripple quarry, since restored as a lake

Google A large body of water photographed from a motorway bridge. It is surrounded by grassland with trees further back, and in the distance a range of hills. — The new site would be near the previous Ripple quarry, since restored as a lake

A new quarry could be dug near the Worcestershire-Gloucestershire border, despite claims its boundary would be just metres from homes and listed buildings.

Cemex is asking for permission to dig sand and gravel for a three-year period on a site near its previous Ripple Quarry, close to the villages of Ripple and Uckinghall.

The firm said the new site, just off the M50 motorway, would provide raw material to keep its nearby Ryall works supplied in the coming years.

A Worcestershire County Council committee will discuss the application on Wednesday with planners recommending it be approved.

Materials would be dug to a depth of up to 5.5m (18ft) across an area of 11.3 hectares (28 acres).

They would be transported by barge about two miles up the River Severn to Cemex's Ryall concrete plant, a report to councillors stated.

After quarrying finished, it is proposed that the site be restored to lake and wetland as with the neighbouring site.

The proposals have been under consultation with neighbouring communities since 2022.

The new quarry outlined in purple would sit near the former Ripple quarry in blue.

Cemex/Worcestershire County Council A map showing the former quarry, now filled with water and shown in blue, to the west (left) of a new site marked on the map with a purple outline. It is close to the marked villages of Uckinghall and Ripple to the north. — The new quarry outlined in purple would sit near the former Ripple quarry in blue.

Ripple Parish Council has called for the application to be refused, saying it was "dismayed" that plans had been brought forward for "yet another" sand and gravel extraction facility in the village.

The site boundary would be just 25m (82ft) from the nearest listed building and close to two conservation areas, in contrast to the current farmland which provided a "buffer" for the village.

Neighbouring Twyning Town Council, in Gloucestershire, shared similar opposition to the plans.

But Tewkesbury Town Council said it would not oppose the scheme, as the continued use of barges on the Severn to transport materials would avoid increased traffic on its roads.

Worcestershire County Council's planning committee is being recommended to approve the plans, subject to an agreement for the site to be subject to a five-year aftercare and management plan when quarrying stops.

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