To this:-

Your Support is crucial!  Click on New Consultation to find out how to make objections as soon as possible (no final deadline yet) Click on Campaign to find out more details of our Campaign Click on Next Meeting for details of our upcoming public meeting. Click on WSCC POLICY for more detail about Gravel Extraction Policy Click on Gravel Area Features to see the key landmarks in the proposed extraction area.

Our Aim To ensure the WSCC Planning Committee rejects Tarmac’s application because it fails to conform to the current Minerals Plan in three vital respects:- ·         It would allow noisy, dusty on-site Processing close to Lavant for 14 years instead of off-site, including crushing stone, on site; and also light pollution by winter afternoon working. ·    It would send 84 lorries a day along Broyle Road, Spitalfield Lane and Westhampnett Road,  also for 14years, instead of using rail or conveyor. ·    It would extend gravel extraction beyond the area laid down in the WSCC Minerals Plan. Gravel should not be worked at all in an area so close to the statutory Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is proposed to be part of the South Downs  National Park. We oppose the consequent destruction the ‘strategic gap’ which was designed to prevent Lavant becoming a suburb of Chichester. We oppose the urbanisation of the south edge of Lavant with a new bridge over Centurion Way and a roundabout with extensive lighting on the A286 with signage, the removal of trees and hedgerows and their replacement with tarmacadam. The proposed new bridge over Centurion Way is a low quality solution with poor provision for users of Centurion Way.   We oppose the loss of public amenity through denial of the quiet enjoyment of Centurion Way. Gravel extraction at Hunters Race will have a significant and adverse impact on the amenity of Centurion Way and its crucial pathway for cyclists and pedestrians to access the South Downs. Centurion Way is used by families and individuals as a major safe link way from Chichester, via Lavant, to West Dean and then on to the South Downs. It is also used by ramblers, dog walkers and equestrians as there are several public footpaths and bridleways which are accessed from Centurion Way.   We are concerned also by:-  The lack of enforcement by WSCC of planning conditions on existing gravel pits, which means that the number of permitted lorry movements is being regularly exceeded   Potential vibration damage to road foundations, and even to house foundations where there are older houses close to the lorry route, as in Spitalfield Lane   Traffic congestion from Oaklands Way out to Portfield, with heavy lorries having to negotiate narrow roundabouts – and in one recent incident, significantly delaying an ambulance trying to get to St Richard’s Hospital.

Tarmac is applying for Planning Permission to:   v     Extract gravel from the Lavant Valley around Hunters Race. v     Extract 2,000,000 tonnes of gravel over 14years v     Process the gravel onsite including washing, crushing, grading and loading v     Build a new roundabout at the junction of A286 Lavant Road and Hunters Race v     Distribute the gravel by road in 38 tonne HGV lorries v     Send 84+ HGV lorries every day, additional to existing traffic, through Chichester along Lavant Road, Broyle Road, Spitalfield Lane, Westhampnett Road to the A27. v     Sell gravel  on-site to all comers with lorries travelling along any route through Chichester or the Lavant Valley v     Operate 7.00am to 18.00 5 ½ days per week.  Thereby:- v      Endangering pedestrians, cyclists and motorists v      Creating long term disturbance from noise, vibration, dust, lighting, congestion and air pollution v      Destroying the tranquility of a lovely stretch of countryside

And let's oppose allowing more heavy, noisy lorries blocking our streets:-                   Ambulance blocked by broken down lorry