Post by Cllr Simon Tagg on Sept 28, 2009 14:06:41 GMT
Mineral targets are excessive
Staffordshire County Council's administration has made it clear that the council has already torn up previous commitments made by their Labour predecessors on meeting Government targets for mineral extraction.
Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Infrastructure Robert Marshall said the new administration had made a clear manifesto commitment to fight for a fairer deal for Staffordshire communities.
Television reports of the demonstration against further sand and gravel extraction in the Alrewas and Kings Bromley area misreported that the county council still accepted Government projections.
Robert Marshall said:
“The new Conservative administration does not accept the Government target for sand and gravel extraction in Staffordshire.
“We are committed to reducing both the tonnage and the percentage of sand and gravel that Staffordshire provides out of the West Midlands allocation.
“One of our first actions on being elected was to instruct officers to change the existing policy. This process is currently underway and will be implemented as soon as possible”.
“One thing is clear. We think it is unreasonable and unfair that Staffordshire bears such a big brunt of the minerals extraction.
“Whilst we recognise that Staffordshire has good minerals reserves and it is a thriving industry, we have to get the balance right. Local people need to be protected from the adverse impact of sand and gravel extraction”.
Staffordshire County Council's administration has made it clear that the council has already torn up previous commitments made by their Labour predecessors on meeting Government targets for mineral extraction.
Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Infrastructure Robert Marshall said the new administration had made a clear manifesto commitment to fight for a fairer deal for Staffordshire communities.
Television reports of the demonstration against further sand and gravel extraction in the Alrewas and Kings Bromley area misreported that the county council still accepted Government projections.
Robert Marshall said:
“The new Conservative administration does not accept the Government target for sand and gravel extraction in Staffordshire.
“We are committed to reducing both the tonnage and the percentage of sand and gravel that Staffordshire provides out of the West Midlands allocation.
“One of our first actions on being elected was to instruct officers to change the existing policy. This process is currently underway and will be implemented as soon as possible”.
“One thing is clear. We think it is unreasonable and unfair that Staffordshire bears such a big brunt of the minerals extraction.
“Whilst we recognise that Staffordshire has good minerals reserves and it is a thriving industry, we have to get the balance right. Local people need to be protected from the adverse impact of sand and gravel extraction”.