Ibstock Brick have provided responses on various consultations since 2007 pertaining to Mineral Safeguarding and the identification of the brick clay resource, specifically that of the Gunthorpe Formation which forms a smaller part of the overall brick clay resource shown on map 7. The available resource is reduced yet further due to the presence of physical features and natural topography together with the proximial presence of towns / villages.
The Mineral Safeguarding Area and the MCA provide a good overall position as to the clay resource which should be protected, however incidents have occurred whereby Borough and District plans do not have regard to the MSA and MCA in their initial plan preparation and Sustainability Appraisals. Failure of District / Borough Councils to take full account of these areas leads to potential loss of minerals or at least, unnecessary protracted examination discussions and the risk of Local Plans being unsound due to an omission of consistency with National Policy and the Mineral Plan. The MSA and MCA should therefore be raised high on the agenda of the District and Borough Councils plus Neighbourhood plans as appropriate.
In addition, Ibstock have identified within the overall MSA and MCA areas of land which are not restricted by other surface development and which, at the appropriate time, will be prime future sites for clay extraction. These sites should be identified in the Safeguarding Policy as areas of particular interest so to avoid the risk of inappropriate development on or in proximity to them.