Jonathon Porritt, founder of Forum for The Future, has been joined by another leading environmental advocate, George Monbiot, in backing the campaign to PROTECT WICKLESHAM QUARRY FROM DEVELOPMENT. They clearly disagree with the landowner's claims that it is nothing more than a 'hole in the ground' and 'ecologically barren'. Local geologist Norman Snelling - active in promoting Faringdon's rare geology for many years - has also signed the petition, opposing Faringdon Neighbourhood Plan's proposal to fill Wicklesham Quarry with 20 acres of industrial warehouses. Claims posted by the landowner of 'inaccuracies' in the online petition are 'inaccurate': nowhere is it stated that Wicklesham is not in Great Faringdon Parish- the petition correctly states that it is 'outside the town', in an area of 'high landscape value'. The survey of rare plant species that he also claims was carried out elsewhere was of the Wicklesham 'tetrad' - an area most of us have never heard of - a 2km sq area (i.e. 4sq Km) that includes the quarry. No one imagines that living plants survive being yanked out of the ground by active quarrying, but when the original top soil is replaced there will be a natural regeneration of indigenous plant life, including any rare species that favour its warm, sheltered environment. That is what the petition states. As for the landowner's recent claim that great crested newts accidentally 'fell into the quarry' - it deserves a round of applause for inventiveness! Newts actively seek water to breed and so they climb downward wherever the landscape offers the opportunity. The presence of breeding colonies of rare newts in the quarry for many years is because it is an ideal habitat, as the Enzygo photos clearly show- not because they can't climb out!! More than 370 people have signed the online petition and one made available at Faringdon Market - and many have made moving and forceful comments about the responsibility to protect and restore this unique site of geo- and bio-diversity, which is surrounded by much-loved footpaths and viewing points. The landowner's divisive claim that this campaign sets Faringdon residents' interests against those of Little Coxwell is belied by the widespread support for restoring Wicklesham Quarry among residents from the whole Faringdon area, and mostly from Faringdon itself. Being a market town means that the town and all the nearby villages are connected and our interests are in common. The Neighbourhood Plan process should not lose sight of that fact: schools, jobs, services, businesses, GPs, shops, roads and countryside are used, needed and valued by all of us, and the town’s future depends on its synergy with the wider area. Wherever we live, people care about local jobs, housing, roads and infrastructure, and the environment. And most people recognize the value of having a unique place like Wicklesham on our doorstep, both for its own sake and for what it could offer to the town's future and unique identity. The restoration plan (already approved) includes preserving rock faces and leaving piles of quarry spoil where people can hunt for fossils. For many years Wicklesham has been a working quarry- it is now time to restore it in accordance with its planning conditions, and to improve the safety of the A420 so that local people can actually get into the countryside around Faringdon and enjoy it without risking their lives. We also don't want to be conned. Let's just remember, when the landowner argues that Wicklesham Quarry is needed for employment- that he made the same claim back in 2008 for the 4&20 site, and what happened? After selling it with planning permission as employment land it has lain empty for the past 5 years, making it vulnerable to alternative planning uses. There is currently an application to put supermarkets on this site- which Faringdon Council has not opposed- which will further undermine the economic viability of Faringdon's existing shops and historic town centre if it goes ahead. It is time to stop Faringdon's development being driven by developers whose only interest is to profit from lucrative changes of land use. The petition to Protect Wicklesham Quarry from industrial development can be found at: https://www.change.org/p/faringdon-town-council-the-vale-of-white-horse-district-council-and-secretary-of-state-greg-clark-protect-wicklesham-quarry-from-development?just_created=true Please keep supporting this important cause!