13-year quarry plan opposed by Dorset Council

Almost all of the 88 hectare site is in Hampshire, less than a hectare being cross-border, although the small slither of Dorset land will provide access to the site. Cemex, which is proposing the new area for extraction, already has a site to the south at Hamer Warren. known locally as Bleak Hill, which is expected to be completed by 2030.

Cemex say the new site at Midgham Farm, if allowed, will see 3.6million tonnes of sand extracted over 13 years, bringing in 2.9million tonnes of inert waste into the site as part of the restoration plan.



Dorset councillors have been told there is likely to be extraction only for the first three years, followed by 10 years of extraction and importing waste material and then five years of importing material and restoring the site. Earth bunds will be built up around the site to help reduce noise and dust levels with the area closest to Alderholt to be extracted first and a tunnel considered under Lomer Lane to access the part of the site proposed for the second phase. Most of the traffic from the site will travel down Alderholt Road by HGVs to Baker’s Hanging and from there onto the wider road network, the same route used by the existing quarry site at Hamer Warren.

Cemex say that there are currently around 2,500 vehicle movements in total along the road, the busiest period between 8am and 9am with 220 vehicle movements – with around 80 HGV movements throughout the day from Hamer Warren. Objectors to the scheme say Cemex has not done enough to mitigate the impacts, including noise and extra traffic from its mineral extraction plans, and claim insufficient interest has been shown in the many springs and water courses in the area. There has also been criticism of Cemex for only donating £2,000 over 35 years of operation to benefit the local community and £1,000 a year to help with the upkeep of the public roads its vehicles use.

Ward councillor David Tooke described the application as a “pre-emptive strike” by the company with the site not likely to be included in the new Hampshire minerals and waste plan..