We wish to thank everyone who has signed the petition to PROTECT WICKLESHAM QUARRY FROM DEVELOPMENT and to urge you to join with us by taking part in the next, critical consultation. TOGETHER WE CAN WIN THIS AND PROTECT FARINGDON'S UNIQUE SITE OF BIO AND GEODIVERSITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS! This site is too important to be buried under concrete and warehouses. Its value as part of the UK's scientific heritage is recognized in its SSSI status for earth sciences. It is the last remaining exposure of the Faringdon Greensand geology of the Corallian Ridge, and its unique fossil record has contributed to the development of paleontology since the 17th century. Earth scientists continue to call for the protection of this Site of Special Scientific Interest that Natural England calls "one of Britain's richest palaeontological sites". As a Conservation Target Area - one of 36 in Oxfordshire - Wicklesham forms part of the UK's commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity, and its 11 rare plant species and protected wildlife are intrinsically linked to the site's underlying geology. Objections to Faringdon Council's proposal to turn Wicklesham Quarry into an industrial warehousing (B2, B8) site must be made by 11TH JANUARY 2016 to the Vale of White Horse District Council, and will go forward to the independent planning inspection of Faringdon Neighbourhood Plan. They need to focus principally on the 'BASIC CONDITIONS' for a legal Neighbourhood Plan. You can make your objection online, and to help make this process easy, in the next 2- 3 weeks we shall post details of how Faringdon Neighbourhood Plan breaches the BASIC CONDITIONS. You can also email protectwicklesham@gmail.com and request the submission points document, to use in your own objection. EXAMPLE: Faringdon Neighbourhood Plan wrongly calls Wicklesham Quarry 'brownfield' (previously developed) land. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Annex 2 states brownfield land 'excludes land that has been developed for minerals extraction or waste disposal by landfill purposes where provision for restoration has been made through development control procedures'. Wicklesham's restoration plan was passed in 2013, in accordance with its existing planning conditions. These conditions accord with the NPPF Section 13: Facilitating the Sustainable Use of Minerals, (Para 44): that requires planning authorities to “provide for restoration and aftercare at the earliest opportunity to be carried out to high environmental standards". Keep watching your updates over the next few weeks for further information, and we will send you ALL submission points together if you drop an email to protectwicklesham@gmail.com. Thanks again for your support! We cannot do this without YOUR VOICE!