I REFER to your item on Tuesday, April 5, concerning the planning application by Canford Renewable Energy to extract almost one million tonnes of sand and gravel from beneath the Canford Magna golf course, and am surprised there has been no response to this in the Echo.

The proposal is to extract 950,000 tonnes of minerals at a rate of around 200,000 a year for five years, based on an 11 hour working day, six days a week. This would involve 220 vehicle movements per day for five years.

A further 18 months is estimated for the completion of the restoration work.

In the last three years, there has been a huge increase in HGV traffic along Magna Road (A341) following extra planning permissions for the waste recycling centre (which is also owned by the present applicant).

This proposed new development raises questions as to whether such a vast further increase in HGV movements can be contained within the existing road structure - specifically the Bear Cross roundabout, which is already at saturation level.

The residential amenity of local residents is bound to be severely affected by the increase in heavy traffic movements, noise, vibration and pollution. The related ‘transport improvements’ proposed is likely to exacerbate this.

The recently completed Stour Valley Way will also be impacted by HGV movements within the site.

MARY TIBBLES

Wood Lane, Bear Wood

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