Over 85 detailed and passionate condemnations from the people of Faringdon and the villages of the Western Vale who have reviewed the applicant's 'revised documents' can now be seen in a redacted  document on the County Council's planning website. Like the last - over one hundered and eighty page - collation of objections by members of the public - as well as the Geological Society - this impressive document demonstrates the committment and concern of local people for the town, its rural environment, and long-term well-being. Only TWO responses stated they were in favour of building a vast industrial infrastructure development on the town's most important environmental site: the unique and famous Wicklesham Quarry SSSI. This is an incredibly impressive response to what is now the THIRD public consultation! The County Council has no doubt been overwhelmed by the level of public particpation, the single voice with which people have spoken, and the passionate commitment of local people to Wicklesham Quarry SSSI.

Below is a tiny snapshot of extracts from the comments- on the SSSI, Wicklesham's natural environment, the traffic implications, the Wicklesham community, Faringdon and its neighbourhood plan, and the application itself. My personal favourite is this (on the proposed piles of spoil from the quarry walls):

"leaving piles of the material in random heaps so that people can rummage through to unearth whatever they can. This is like demolishing a Grade 1 listed building and inviting the Planning authority to preserve whatever they can from the rubble."   10/10

• The SSSI

"It galls me that the applicant claims that the SSSI status makes the site unique for marketing .. but not sufficient to protect the quarry floor for future scientific research.”

“Many of these fossils are so perfectly preserved that they are in museums as exhibition pieces all over the world.  To build over this would be absolutely criminal.”

“I fail to understand how anyone could even consider destroying a SSSI that is unique, known Internationally, much-studied and which requires much more study by present and future generations of geoscientists.”

“an Integrity site of type IS: it has a unique faunal assemblage in a palaeogeomorphological context”

“Spoil heaps of fossils are educational for fossil collectors including children, but they do not meet the needs of scientists, who need to relate rare fossils precisely to their geological contexts - in situ, in other words. Once removed, their scientific value is limited if not lost.”

“It is clear that the proposed development is not compatible with the conservation needs for Wicklesham Quarry SSSI and would cause irreparable harm.”

“The site has been known for its importance since the Seventeenth Century (and research then was funded by no less than Sir Isaac Newton) and much-studied thereafter, with scientific debate linked to Darwin's 'On the origin of species'.”

“Collection from spoil heaps does not preserve with any certainty the context of the location of the fossils and is therefore not acceptable for research purposes.”   

“Depressingly, we have been put in the position of having to relive the trauma we suffered a few months ago, of imagining the horrendous thought of such a special site being trashed, simply for profit, and without regard to its environmental, international heritage, and scientific significance, or its value to the local communities, as a natural amenity.”

“As a SSSI site it is incomprehensible that any development is being considered - the proposal amounts to environmental vandalism.”

“The British Geological Survey report RR/08/03 ISBN 0 85272 623 5  2008 p59 states that the thickness of the Sponge Gravels is about 50m which is considerably more than the current quarry wall height.”

“viewing multiple quarry walls - to understand the geometry of the palaeoenvironment – [would be] impossible.”

“the proposal will destroy the SSSI irreparably and its value for education and research purposes not only for geoscientists but also for the interested public”

“the one thing that makes Faringdon unique: its place in the history of science, and as the location of one of the oldest and most important Sites of Special Scientific Interest in the country, which has made the name of ‘Faringdon’ famous.”

“Wicklesham Quarry has an essential, central place in the history and identity of Faringdon that is irreplaceable, and almost any town would be extremely envious to have such a priceless scientific, historical and cultural site as part of its identity. Wicklesham Quarry is a landmark in the history of science, and it would be an absolute outrage to turn it into an industrial estate.”

“This completely unique site is more important than the town itself. Wicklesham Quarry made the name of ‘Faringdon’ famous. As a ‘type site’, with fossils that are found nowhere else in the world, it gave the name ‘Faringdon’ to ‘Faringdon fossils, the ‘Faringdon Greensands’ and the ‘Faringdon Sponge Gravels’. It is the only location where this palaeontology and geomorphology can be seen and studied. It was formed under conditions that appear never to have been repeated anywhere else, and it is justly, internationally famous.”  

“The name ‘Faringdon’ is known world-wide BECAUSE OF WICKLESHAM QUARRY" 

“we will lose a site with a geological make up is so rare it is the only know example in the world.”

 

• The Wicklesham community

“The applicant has said that his family are the only people on the estate. This is a complete falsehood and lie. There are many families here and a settled community with children…”

“The other houses on the plans are listed as ‘farm buildings’, ‘sheds’ or have been deleted from the plan in their entirety. Two houses that have been deleted are within 6 yards of the development! All the plans that refer to the nearby impacts refer only to Wicklesham Lodge farmhouse - suggesting that it is the only house up here other than 'farm buildings' & the listed barns."

"Our quality of life, the destruction of the rural environment, the visual impacts of the development- just a few yards from our doors (less than the width of a road), impacts of noise, air pollution, light pollution (in darkness) are all going to be majorly traumatic to us all.”

 

• Wicklesham’s natural environment

"This site is a SSSI - it is an important area of natural habitat and has real historical significance. I enjoy frequent walks through this area - the flora and fauna are beautiful and should be preserved."  

“It is part of West Oxfordshire Heights Conservation Area and is an important amenity for the people of Faringdon and the surrounding villages.”

“quarrying having finished here the site should be restored to nature and not be used as a 'stepping stone' to development.”

“The proposal will be an urban intrusion into a much valued place of tranquility for many residents of, and visitors to, Faringdon.”

“I moved to Faringdon to enjoy a rural life and thought the town council had an interest in offering that to its resident humans and animal/nature. If that's not the case I will move.”

“The use of the buildings will increase noise levels in the local area, as well as impacting people that use the pathways around the quarry regularly including horse riders, ramblers and runners.”

“Wicklesham Farm is not a brownfield site, it is in open countryside and should remain so.”

“There would be damage and destruction to the natural habitats of animals, birds, rare amphibians and insects that live there as well as eco systems that are already established in the quarry and surrounding areas.”

“We moved to the area for access to local rural footpaths. This development will bring industrial development across the a420 for the first time and permanently damage the environment and its value to local people.”

“If you lived here you would see all the animals that navigate through and live in the quarry, wildlife that the government gives out grants to land owners to provide landscape to protect them from destruction.”

“Many natural species would be displaced and a unique area of Oxfordshire lost.”

“The proposal is in conflict with Oxfordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan (OMWLP), and the National Planning Policy Policy M10: Restoration of mineral workings - states: - "Mineral workings shall be restored to a high standard and in a timely and phased manner to an after-use that is appropriate to the location and delivers a net gain in biodiversity.”

“There does not appear to be any consideration for the significance of the site nor the impact it will have on traffic and the area in general.  I vehemently oppose this development".

 

• Faringdon and the neighbourhood plan

“It is no surprise that there was and still is unprecedented local objection to this application. Let's see if local Members actually serve their communities”.

“This is NOT in the interest of the local people of Faringdon.”

“This site should never have been considered for development given its location and the national designations which apply.”

“The fact this is still being concidered smacks of a financial back hander and a corrupt planning department. I believe an investigation into the relevant planner’s bank account would not be remiss.”

'NO OTHER VILLAGE OR TOWN ALONG THE A420 BETWEEN OXFORD AND SWINDON HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPAND TO STRADDLE THE A420 IN SUCH A WAY.

“I understand that Faringdon Town Council has voted to support this planning application using the Neighbourhood plan to justify their intervention. I object to the proposal and the Town Council's action.”

“Faringdon does not want or need this development!”

“I am writing to share my utter disgust and disbelief that the people of Faringdon are still fighting against the entirely unsuitable and unneeded development of Wicklesham Quarry.  I have been aware of this fight for many years and have done my bit to raise awareness with the people of Faringdon who have been purposefully kept from the true reasons the Town Council and the land owner want this development...MONEY.  They have worked together to design a neighborhood plan specifically to allow the land owner to develop the quarry to maximise the financial return.”

“Wicklesham Quarry was put forward by the landowner and rejected repeatedly by the District Council as an employment site in the Local Plan from 2008 to 2016.”

 “The misuse of planning rules and the failure to consider the appropriate development of the Town and surrounding area, in line with agreed positions set out in documents like the Local Plan are unacceptable.”

“I am absolutely amazed that your council has approved a project which the INHABITANTS in your area DO NOT WANT. This applicant must wield a lot of power over the councillors?????  It appears you approve of a SSSI BEING RUINED.”

“The High Court ruled in 2017 that the Neighbourhood Plan was in conflict with the strategic policies of the Local Plan. The judgment states: "Neither the examiner nor the District Council were lawfully satisfied that the FNP satisfied the basic condition that the making of the plan was in general conformity with the strategic policies contained in the development plan."  The judge awarded this ground of a Judicial Review AGAINST the Vale of White Horse District Council."

“The proposal is in conflict with the strategic policies of the Local Plan for a second reason: it is a major, strategic development - many times larger than anything intended for local needs.”  

"The applicant's 'principle of development' tries to give spurious legitimacy to an aim that has been at the centre of widespread local perceptions of complicity, deception and cover-up for the past ten years."  

"Faringdon Council knew of the obligation of the Neighbourhood Plan to be 'in general conformity with the strategic policies of the Local Plan'. They chose to ignore it, and are STILL in denial that their appalling and shameful policy is in breach of the 'basic conditions' - even after the judge's ruling in the Judicial Review." 

“The aim of this neighbourhood plan was deliberately to flout the Local Plan and to try to override its strategic policies.”

“People have questioned WHY a council would make a neighbourhood plan with a policy for industrial development on the town's most important environmental site - a Site of Special Scientific interest of international importance. The misuse of a neighbourhood plan to help a landowner get planning permission for a site that has been repeatedly turned down for inclusion in the Local Plan since 2008, has involved false statements, omissions of key environmental information, and bogus data and claims regarding local employment.”

 

• Traffic

“This huge development will compromise our rural village life, affect our air quality with increased traffic, and inevitably result in injury or worse for those of us daring to walk from top of village to the bottom, which is already a very risky task especially for our older residents and kids.”

“It seems inevitable that the whole stretch of the A420 around Faringdon will be severely affected by the proposed development, judging by its proposed scale (as indicated by the parking provision on the site).”

“The resulting logjam will result in Satnav sending heavy traffic through Longcot, Fernham and Shellingford. These small villages already suffer from damage to verges caused by enormous articulated lorries, safety issues and pollution whenever there are problems on the A420. Recently traffic lights at the Longcot turn resulted in gravel lorries using this route as a rat run to save time. All these villages have children's nurseries or schools.”

“Re traffic: demonstrably false.”

“Most employees on site will commute from Oxford, Swindon or beyond.”

“The applicant's tech note 2 Ta addendum summary emphasises junction failures would happen regardless of the proposed development. However it then states that the Fernham Road junction failure is expected to worsen with the addition of the development due to increased flows on the A420. The development turns a junction failure into a bigger failure but that is somehow okay? Interesting logic!”

“The A420 is not fit for the current traffic levels, let alone the increased level this development will bring.”

“This would create prime conditions for rat running through the town centre.”

“The area is already under massive development with local housing. Traffic is alarming high with regular congestion spilling out to the local rural roads. The a420 is dangerous and the council choose to ignore. This development will only add to this risk.”

“the provisions for access to the site for a very large number of users is very inadequate and would cause traffic tailbacks on both sides of the a420 and into Faringdon itself. Unless there are clear plans to improve public transport links (with no bus stops serving the site well or safe pedestrian access) it is clear that the plan supports commute by car only. Which also goes against regional and National environmental goals.”

 

• The application documents, reports and ‘principle of development’

“The applicant’s ‘principle of development’ is flawed: it relies on a Neighbourhood Plan that is in conflict with the strategic policies of the Local Plan.”

“The plain truth is that this sort of development should be provided in a major centre like Swindon and has no place in the open countryside.”

“I find it to be a ridiculous set of circumstances we find ourselves in. A massively increased level of traffic flow on a road that's already well above capacity ... and the apparent ignoring of the SSSI and the fact this is not a brownfield site means this application should have been refused well before it reached this point. It should also continue to be refused.”

“The development boundary of Faringdon is a strategic policy. Wicklesham Quarry SSSI is outside the town boundary in open countryside. Policy 4.5B is in conflict with the strategic policies of the Local Plan. (NPPF Para 13, PPG Para 036, PPG para 044)”

“I object to - and am appalled by - this cynical application ... I am objecting to the principle of developing of the Former Quarry site; and also to these specific proposals which represent building on an alien and monstrous scale which is completely inappropriate for the rural character of the landscape. The development would result in unacceptable light pollution, noise pollution, traffic pollution, and would completely destroy the rural character of Faringdon and its surrounding villages, while showing complete disregard for the SSSI and the nearby AONB. This development is contrary to the Local Plan, and if such plans are to have any meaning at all then this application must be rejected and the status of Wicklesham Quarry clarified so that there can be no further opportunistic applications.”

“Where is the evidence of need and suitability for such a site in this specific location? Moderna are investing on the Harwell site, the old Debenhams store in Oxford is proposed for life sciences, there are major consented, life science developments around Oxford. Where is the evidence of demand for a site in Faringdon?”

"It appears that the Oxfordshire Geology Trust is conflicted by reason of its long standing relationship with the landowner so the County Council must take independent advice or risk a Judicial Review of any decision to grant consent."

“This type of development is completely unnecessary in a rural location.  Brown field sites should be sought where large centres of population already exist.”   

"The Oxfordshire Geology Trust report shows a photograph said to date from 2015, which must have been taken at least ten years earlier. By 2015 active quarrying had been finished for about seven years. The walls were green, mature ponds had formed, and small trees were growing.  Why did members of Oxfordshire Geology Trust use a photograph that they must have known was a lie? They had been visiting Wicklesham Quarry and collecting fossils there for many years. This deception undermines their credibility from the start.”

“Statements by Oxfordshire Geology Trust: are not backed up with evidence; conflict with authoritative scientific data; conveniently fit the landowners’ agenda.”

“The proposal is not intended to meet local needs. It is a major development. It is in conflict with, and threatens to undermine, the Local Plan strategic employment land allocations, and strategic spatial objectives on sustainable allocations of employment land.”

“an unparalleled eyesore in the unspoiled landscape of the Midvale Ridge- completely out of place in this setting.”

“The appearance of the whole site, with even more massive buildings, and waste storage all round the visible site, would be quite horrific.”  

“No ‘proportionate, robust’, ‘clear or persuasive evidence’ has been submitted by the applicants, or shown in Faringdon Neighbourhood Plan, to support the use of Wicklesham Quarry as employment land. The evidence put forward by Faringdon Council in the Examination of the Local Plan is exactly the same as that used in the Neighbourhood Plan, and now cited by the applicants. This locally-produced evidence, which is flawed in its assumptions, methodology and conclusions, was unequivocally rejected by the District Council. It should be rejected again.”

“this proposal is for a major, strategic development of over 46,000 square metres on an unallocated site. Such a development is outside the remit of any neighbourhood plan.”

Please keep in touch and let friends and neighbours know- if they sign the petiton they will receive automatic news updates like this. You DO NOT have to make a donation to Change.Org (or 'chip in') in order to sign the petition. Please don't- unless you wish to donate to Change.Org.  Donations do not support the campaign to Protect Wicklesham Quarry from Development. Local effort does that!

Best wishes to local supporters of Wicklesham Quarry SSSI, and many thanks to Sarah for the photo of Wicklesham Quarry under a rainy sky.

protectwicklesham@gmail.com. Please get in touch with any comments or queries.