The Palaeontological Association, “one of the world's leading learned societies in palaeontology”, has written to Oxfordshire County Council urging them to reject the proposal to build on top the Site of Special Scientific interest. The Council of the Palaeontological Association express “our deepest concerns” about the proposal to build a 33,500 sq m industrial/ commercial development on top of the SSSI.
Their submission (Rep 12: ‘Third Consultation redacted representations’) states:
“Wicklesham and Coxwell Pits… are internationally famous as the only known location of a unique deposit of ancient sediments approx. 120 million years old, known as the ‘Faringdon Sponge Gravels’. These gravels contain over 150 species of fossils, many of which occur nowhere else.”
They point out that Wicklesham’s “unique fossils were included in the first catalogue of English fossils by Llhwyd in 1699, sponsored by (among others) Isaac Newton” and that “‘Faringdon fossils’… formed part of Mantell’s important collection purchased on behalf of the nation for the British Museum, following a petition led by Darwin, Lyell, Owen, Buckland, the leading geologists of the day.”
The Association states that “new permanent structures would prevent access to the quarry base and effectively put an end to any future research, teaching, and educational use.”
“There is much to learn about this unique locality. It has an exceptional place in the history of science, and the quarry, including the base, must remain accessible for future researchers and educators in geology, geosciences, and palaeobiology.
We strongly urge Oxfordshire County Council not to support this new planning application.”
TWO FURTHER OBJECTIONS, Rep 11 and Rep 14, also apparently on behalf of scientific bodies, are among the submissions, although- having been inappropriately redacted - the identities of these institutions are not known. (See suggestion below.)
Rep 14 states: “Given the outstanding importance of the proposed area for geological and palaeontological sciences, recognized by its SSSI status, it would be prudent to ensure the preservation of this site for current and future scientific study. Discussions about the development of the Wicklesham and Coxwell Pits should be done in consultation with stakeholders from the relevant academic community as represented by the Palaeontological Association and the Geological Society of London.”
Rep 11 points out that Wicklesham Quarry’s unique scientific resources continue to represent an important field of current research:
“The quarries of the Faringdon Sponge Gravels are an important part of British Cretaceous geology and are listed as a Geological Conservation Review site and an SSSI. The assemblage of fossils is unique in the UK and, recently, a new paper describing new sponge species from the site, has been submitted to the Proceedings of the Geologists' Association for publication. This contains new taxonomic information and demonstrates that new research on the area is still being pursued. It is important, therefore, that any development (if allowed) must conserve at least some of the site for future research.”
If you wish to know who the scientific bodies are whose views are represented by Rep 11 and Rep 14, (or the academic/ professional status of the writers- but NOT their names), please drop an email to Planning Case Officer, Mary Hudson, email: planning@oxfordshire.gov.uk. (suggested format below).
Dear Mary Hudson,
Re. MW.0151/23 – Wicklesham Quarry.
Rep 11 and Rep 14 from the collated, redacted responses to the third consultation are written on behalf of leading scientific bodies whose expertise and authority (like that of the Palaeontological Association - Rep 12) are critical to this planning case. The names of these bodies and status of the respondents- NOT the names of individuals - are of very great public interest and importance and should not have been redacted.
Please can you send me this information as soon as possible, and also make it available to councillors and members of the public on the website.
Please will you ensure that any further emails or letters received from similar expert scientific bodies are shown individually among the 'documents', with all information regarding their source, and the status (not name) of the respondent visible to the public. I repeat, names are not necessary, but status and institution are absolutely essential. There is currently a perception that these comments from expert bodies are being suppressed and concealed from the public, which is wholly unacceptable.
I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Many thanks.
These submissions on behalf of the nation’s scientific community are a fantastic endorsement of the value of Wicklesham Quarry SSSI, and of the efforts of local people for the past ten years to protect this unique site!
We intend to let local District Councillors know about these submissions in the hope that they will urge Faringdon Council to come to its senses, before an irreplaceable national asset – and the town’s most important environmental site- is destroyed.
Keep in touch! Drop your comments and questions to: protectwicklesham@gmail.com