Reference: Objection to Policy MP" Sand and Gravel Provision and Inclusion of site- 'MP2s Mill Hill nr Barton-in-Fabis'

Dear Sir/ Madam,

I am writing to confirm that I wish to OBJECT most strongly to the above site.
1) The County Councils own 'Sustainability Assessment' shows that this site is the most damaging of all sites in the operational phase and the 3rd most damaging in the long term.
2)The County Council has remarkably introduced a spurious rationale of 'maintaining a spread of geographical sites' and appears to have found unfathomable reasons for excluding the Shelford site which should have been included as a more sustainable and appropriate transport based option. The fact that the Shelford site is within the ward of council leader suggests that she is acting unreasonably through a personal interest that is clouding rationale judgement and the potential non-legitmate influence of her and others in the process should be investigated.
3) The Draft Minerals Local Plan is 'unsound' in that the Council has sought to justify the inclusion of the site off "maintaining a geographical spread" and therefore over riding the adverse impact on sustainability. However, the Council has stated that "there is no published data related to geographical spread". The Council has failed to follow its policy aim, to "Prioritise sites with potential for transporting sand and gravel by river barge" by not allocating sites which use this mode of transport. This is a serious oversight and needs re-evaluating.
4) Development of the Barton Site would result in major impact on two SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest). Attenborough nature reserve and Holme Pit which are close to the site and on five SINCs (Sites of Important Nature Conservation) one of which will be destroyed altogether.
5) Natural England, RSPB, CPRE, Ramblers Association and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust have already objected to a planning application for this site.
6) The site is in the Green Belt. Additionally, the Brandshill and Clifton Woods, adjacent to the site, have been designated as Ancient Woodland which have special protection under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The Council has failed to justify any "wholly exceptional reasons" required by the NPPF.
7)The site is close to heavily populated areas which would be impacted by noise and dust.
8) There would be a major impact on the quality of life and visual amenity for local people. Thee will be as well a loss of peace and tranquility in an area used extensively by a wider community for walking, fishing, horse riding, bird watching and other leisure pursuits.
9) I, personally, use this area for leisure walking and running and observation of wildlife regularly and with my family and children and this would have a big negative personal impact. Bridleways and footpaths that I and other use would be diverted and closed. There would be the creation of safety issues for children and others.
10) There would be an adverse effect upon Clifton Hall and the Clifton Village Conservation Area with additionally loss of agricultural land for local farmers.

11) The loss of a significant area of countryside on the edge of a large city such as Nottingham damages the recreational opportunities that are increasingly important for the health and well-being of city dwellers.

I am grateful to you for looking into the above reasons and adjusting this totally unsound plan.