Grundons (the operator) have submitted yet another application to delay restoring Wicklesham Quarry, even though quarrying finished around five years ago! Local people recognize the pattern. Each time it looks as though the quarry will have to be restored in line with its planning conditions - because consent to turn into an industrial warehousing site has still not been obtained - another application goes in for a 12 month delay, with a promise that once that ends it will be restored. At least 3 previous applications have been submitted - all with the aim of ultimately avoiding fulfilling Wicklesham's planning conditions. Apart from the damage to Grundon's reputation as a responsible quarry operator of colluding with the landowner and failing to honour their undertakings to the public, supporters of the campaign to PROTECT WICKLESHAM QUARRY FROM DEVELOPMENT now argue that these applications represent an abuse of process. We have reminded Oxfordshire County Council of its responsibility under the National Planning Policy Framework Section 13 for The Sustainable Use of Minerals: "local planning authorities must provide for restoration and aftercare at the earliest opportunity to be carried out to high environmental standards, through the application of appropriate conditions, where necessary." PLEASE ADD YOUR VOICE to the public consultation on the latest application via Oxfordshire County Council's planning portal before the deadline of 29th OCTOBER. It's application MW.0134/15, at http://myeplanning2.oxfordshire.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/Wphappcriteria.display. Local campaigners state that the ‘earliest opportunity’ was several years ago, and there is no excuse for any more delay. Wicklesham Quarry's planning conditions are clear: it is agricultural land in temporary use for quarrying, and must be restored in line with the plan passed by Oxfordshire County Council in 2013. Local people and the wider public have a legitimate interest in seeing this important site restored: besides being a SSSI of international importance for earth sciences in geology, palaeontology and historical significance, Wicklesham Quarry is also a Conservation Target Area (CTA) within Oxfordshire’s Biodiversity Action Plan. CTAs cover 17% of Oxfordshire’s land but support 83% of UK BAP Priority Species, and 85% of UK BAP Priority Habitat. In the case of Wicklesham CTA eleven rare plant species are recorded, as well as breeding colonies of protected Great Crested Newts (as well as smooth & palmate newts and toads) within the quarry’s naturalised ponds. Wicklesham Quarry’s biodiversity is intrinsically linked to its rare underlying geology- the ‘Faringdon Greensands’ - and so its restoration is a matter of high priority in meeting the UK’s Biodiversity Action Plan targets. If you have any questions, want information, or to see a sample objection, e-mail protectwicklesham@gmail.com. As soon as future dates for public consultation on Faringdon Neighbourhood Plan are known, supporters will be advised- YOUR VOICE IS ESSENTIAL TO PROTECT WICKLESHAM QUARRY FROM DEVELOPMENT! Thanks for your support and don't hesitate to get in touch by email if you have any questions or can offer help with the campaign.