Draft Nottinghamshire Minerals Local Plan

Ref: Minerals Local Plan - Besthorpe
Please don not stop quarrying at Besthorpe quarry.
Following my discussion this afternoon with Stephen Pointer and Robert Portman at Collingham, as the project manager for the Trent Vale Trail initiative, please find below my thoughts on the benefits of the quarrying in the Besthorpe area.
The Trent Vale near Collingham has a number of charities working extremely well together with a common objective to create an amazing wetland and wildlife area and support the local economy on the far eastern and often forgotten end of Nottinghamshire.
Two years ago the Sustrans Newark volunteers commenced a project to develop the next phase of the Trent Vale Trail from Collingham to North Clifton. The article below outlines the high-level objectives. Last month we were successful in our fundraising bid (first stage) with the LEADER programme to raise £160,000 for the first phase of this multi-user trail linking Collingham with Besthorpe via the Besthorpe Nature Reserve. One of the key dependencies is that the land on the eastern end of the Besthorpe Nature Reserve (marked with a yellow spot on the map below) would become available to Tarmac who will allow us to build the linking path from Northcroft Lane, Collingham to Trent Lane, Besthorpe. If the decision is made to stop or postpone the planned quarrying in this field we would not be able to deliver this trail. The LEADER programme is a special EU Programme for developing the rural economy which unfortunately will no longer exist from March 2019 as a result of Brexit and hence we will lose this funding opportunity.
The local support for developing the Trent Vale is fantastic. All of the local 6 Parish Councils are supporting us by being part of the "Friends of the Trent Vale Trail" as well as providing financial contributions. Both the RSPB and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust are actively developing this area with large number of volunteers working out there. Tarmac has been extremely pro-active in providing support. The video shows what has already and will be achieved with your support. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j6-YMAlUZc)

As demonstrated in the video we have the full support from Cllr Maureen Dobson who is our project sponsor and also from Tim Deal, Tarmac Site-Manager. Andrew Hindmarsh, on behalf of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Besthorpe, is also very keen to make this connection happen to improve access to the nature reserve.
More information what this area will look like in the years to come is clear from the RSPB & Nature after Minerals "Bigger and Better" Newark to South Clifton Concept Plan. The proposed path will link up the many places of interest and natural beauty.
www.rspb.org.uk/Images/futurescapes-newark-to-south-clifton-concept-plan_tcm9-416261.pdf
Preventing the quarrying extension in the field on the eastern end of the Besthorpe Nature Reserve, at a time when real progress is being made to improve tourism into the area, would not benefit the local economy. If required we can provide more information on the proposals and benefits of the work being delivered by the Friends of the Trent Vale Trail, who are very passionate about developing the land into an area of natural beauty and economic benefits.
Because of time constraints of the LEADER funding, a prompt decision to again include this small field is critical now to protect the £160,000 grant.