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09/08/2016
CONCERNS RAISED OVER ‘HORRENDOUS’ QUARRY FEARS over flooding and the effect on the landscape have been raised after proposals to expand a quarry south of Thatcham for a further 12 years were shown to the public. On Monday waste management fi rm Grundon exhibited its plans to expand the Kennetholme Quarry west towards Crookham Hill. The proposed extension would cover 47 hectares – roughly the size of 77 football pitches – and would see 10 years of extraction followed by two years of restoration. It comes as sand and gravel reserves at the existing Kennetholme Quarry is expected to run out within the next two years. But residents voiced their concerns at the consultation held at
• Ben Smith (front, crouching) completed his 388th marathon in Newbury
By Adam Flinn
Thatcham Town Football Club. Victoria Casula, who lives close to the proposed extension, said: “It’s horrendous, it’s a local amenity they’re stripping on the doorstep of Thatcham. “This is a flood plain and any movement on this is going to send water into Chamberhouse Mill Lane. “I’m astonished that this can be considered as a potential working site for commercial benefit, there must be other sites the council considers more preferable.” South Thatcham resident Richard Foster added: “I know Grundon are trying to be as sensitive as possible, but if you quarry an area like that, it’s no longer a
lovely natural area. “If you’re going for a walk you don’t tend to naturally walk through quarries whereas at the moment within 10 minutes of leaving your house in Thatcham from the other side of the crossing, you’ve got a beautiful spot of countryside.” Judith Bunting, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Newbury, also attended the consultation. She said: “The plans that are coming forward are worrying because the council has not yet passed this as a preferred area [for quarrying]. “We want the council to postpone things because it may not be necessary to happen at all if this is not a preferred area.” VË Í ÖjÄË Ë¬?~jËÏ
Marathon man in town A MAN on a mission to complete 401 marathons in 401 days paid a visit to Newbury last week for his latest run as he nears the end of his epic challenge.
Ben Smith completed his 388th marathon in the town last Thursday, as he approaches the fi nal run in his home town of Bristol next Wednesday.
The 10,000-mile-plus journey so far has seen him raise £155,000 for anti-bullying charities Kidscape and Stonewell. See page 2 for full story.
• The proposed extension to the quarry
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