Warwick's MP has said county councillors should "hang their heads in shame" after backing plans for a new sand and gravel quarry just 650 metres from a local primary school.

Warwickshire County Council approved its new minerals plan on Tuesday (July 19) with the 90 hectare quarry at Wasperton one of seven new sites put forward.

The plan, which is four years behind schedule, provides a strategy for supplying the minerals the county and others need to provide the infrastructure, buildings, energy and goods.

But the news of the Wasperton Farm site, just 350 metres from Barford village, has been met by fierce opposition from residents and MP for Warwick and Leamington Matt Western.

Mr Western says another quarry in the county is unnecessary because thousands of surplus homes are being built in the district - according to a an ex-council planner.

Warwick District Council's local plan for future housing and development up to 2029 outlines the need for 16,776 homes.

But analysis compiled by ex-council planner and architect of 40 years, Ray Bullen, suggests 20,320 new dwellings will be delivered in the same time frame.

Smiths Concrete has put forward the plans for Wasperton and is set to submit a planning application later this year (Image via Smiths Concrete)

The Labour MP said: "County council chiefs will be aware of residents' concerns and should hang their heads in shame for pursuing such damaging plans.

"None of the county's other three silica-emitting mineral sites are anywhere near a village – and certainly not a primary school.

"I have seen analysis that estimates almost 4,000 surplus homes will be built in Warwick district by 2029 - at the trajectory of applications granted and sites earmarked for development."

Mr Western also brought forward a Private Members' Bill to Parliament which aims to outlaw mineral quarries within one kilometre of homes and communities.

He added: "Work by the Keep Our Greenbelt Green campaign group has also cast doubt over whether a further 6,000 homes catering to Coventry's population should be built in our district – when Office for National Statistics (ONS) calculations for housing need appear inaccurate.

"Therefore, the sand and gravel from this massive quarry – which would dwarf the entire land space covered by Barford – will not be needed once our local plan is revised as I believe it must be.

"This is devastating and potentially dangerous for Barford and its residents and I will be with them every step of the way as they continue to fight the plans."

Warwickshire County Council approved its new minerals plan on Tuesday July 19 (Image by James Smith)

The site, which is expected to be used for at least a decade, is located about 650 metres from St Peter's Primary School.

More than 1,000 people have lodged official objections to the plans, with residents raising concerns about the health impacts of the quarry.

Chief campaigner and Barford Residents' Association committee member, Malcolm Eykyn, said: "News of WCC voting to adopt this vast quarry outside our back door yesterday has merely hardened our resolve to continue to find legal means to obstruct it at every stage of the planning process. 

"The authorities we are battling with still do not understand the gravity of the risk of damage and disruption due to dusty, noisy heavy lorries and mining machinery this would impose on the health of our residents over many years."

The site – which campaigners say is composed of high-quality agricultural land and irreplaceable ancient hedgerows – is owned by the University of Oxford's wealthiest college, St John's.

The college, with £650million in assets, has sanctioned the county council's request for the land to be used in its minerals land allocation plan – which designates areas for natural resource extraction.

After the quarry plans were submitted to the planning inspectorate for a review, a public consultation was staged by applicant Smiths Concrete and alterations were made to the scheme before it was approved.

Following Tuesday's announcement Ray Chambers, general manager of Smiths Concrete which is putting forward the Barford site said: "Our proposals for a new sand and gravel quarry at Wasperton Farm would provide around a third of Warwickshire's needs for the next 10+ years.

"So, we're heartened now councillors have accepted the recommendation made by both council officers and the inspector to include the site in the county's confirmed minerals plan. 

"Every county must secure its own sources of aggregate for use in building and maintaining homes, schools and hospitals, as well as for use in constructing the infrastructure needed for our low carbon future.

"With supplies in Warwickshire becoming increasingly strained, the alternative to identifying local quarries would be bringing in supplies adding to costs, HGV traffic and transport-related emissions.

"Warwickshire County Council's determination of its minerals plan is a significant step forward and Smiths is now focusing on finalising our detailed plans for Wasperton Farm – assured that the important role it could play in securing the county's sand and gravel needs is firmly acknowledged."

(Header image via parliament.uk)