the opportunities for enhancement of watercourses and their associated corridors should be included. It should be made clear that watercourses should not be included in the extraction areas, but instead should have buffer zones free from any activity/operation associated with development/extraction. This should be applied to all watercourses. (Environment Agency) Stage 1 Assessment is to be undertaken using a GIS layer but using Table 1, paragraph 4.17 and Appendix 2 seem to imply greater knowledge of the sites and more – detailed assessment work. These criteria and assessment methodology appear more appropriate to Stage 2. A desk based assessment is unlikely to be able to include such value judgments unless a site visit has been made? (Cemex) In the Site Assessment Methodology Traffic Light The reference to sites with or the strongest ‘strong screening process there is no mention that sites with presumption against gravel extraction’ refers to existing strong or the strongest presumption against gravel Policy set out in the Berkshire Replacement Minerals Local should NOT be considered or should be flagged Red. We Plan. These areas were established as there were put it to the assessment team that this should be allocations set out in the Plan which were required to meet included in the initial screening method i.e. to eliminate or mineral demand established at that time. As the Joint flag sites that have the strongest or strong presumption Minerals & Waste Plan is being prepared 16 years after the against gravel extraction. (Resident) Replacement Plan was updated, mineral demand is being reassessed and all site allocations and options are being and therefore, it is not practicable to rule out sites other than the remaining allocations in the 2001 Plan. Q118 The East Plan deals with the Thames Basin Heaths Noted the assessments will be reviewed and updated – special protection area. Our concern is this has a where necessary. chipping away effect on natural habitats, the Green Belt, and an unknown effect on flooding, this type of land can store copious amounts of water. The sites referred to must be protected as such within the Thames basin. (Datchet Parish Council)
the opportunities for enhancement of watercourses and their associated corridors should be included. It should be made clear that watercourses should not be included in the extraction areas, but instead should have buffer zones free from any activity/operation associated with development/extraction. This should be applied to all watercourses. (Environment Agency) Stage 1 Assessment is to be undertaken using a GIS layer but using Table 1, paragraph 4.17 and Appendix 2 – seem to imply greater knowledge of the sites and more detailed assessment work. These criteria and assessment methodology appear more appropriate to Stage 2. A desk based assessment is unlikely to be able to include such value judgments unless a site visit has been made? (Cemex) In the Site Assessment Methodology Traffic Light screening process there is no mention that sites with strong or the strongest presumption against gravel should NOT be considered or should be flagged Red. We put it to the assessment team that this should be included in the initial screening method i.e. to eliminate or flag sites that have the strongest or strong presumption against gravel extraction. (Resident) The reference to sites with ‘strong or the strongest presumption against gravel extraction’ refers to existing Policy set out in the Berkshire Replacement Minerals Local Plan. These areas were established as there were allocations set out in the Plan which were required to meet mineral demand established at that time. As the Joint Minerals & Waste Plan is being prepared 16 years after the Replacement Plan was updated, mineral demand is being reassessed and all site allocations and options are being and therefore, it is not practicable to rule out sites other than the remaining allocations in the 2001 Plan. Q118 The East Plan deals with the Thames Basin Heaths special protection area. Our concern is this has a chipping away effect on natural habitats, the Green Belt, and an unknown effect on flooding, this type of land can store copious amounts of water. The sites referred to must be protected as such within the Thames basin. (Datchet Parish Council) Noted – the assessments will be reviewed and updated where necessary.
JCEBFinalIOconsultationstatementSept2017.docx