Warwickshire News Mine

Warwickshire County Council’s Minerals Development Framework will become part of local planning policy under new legislation and the County Council is inviting people to become involved in the early stages of the process to create this new policy.

This aspect of planning is unique in that minerals can only be dug where they exist. While everyone benefits from the products of mineral extraction, the process can have an impact on the local environment and the landscape.

Cllr Chris Saint, the county Cabinet member with responsibility for planning policy, said individuals and communities should take advantage of the active role they can play in planning for sustainable mineral extraction.

Cllr Saint said: ``Warwickshire’s Minerals Development Framework will set out the policies for determining minerals planning applications in the county.  Members of the public are invited to give their views on what should be taken into consideration, what has worked in the past and how planning policy for minerals extraction could be improved.  This will help to determine the issues for which planning policy options will be developed at the next stage of the process.’’

Anyone with an interest in sustainable minerals development is encouraged to take part in Warwickshire’s Minerals Development Forum.  Information on how to become involved in the Forum, as well as how the minerals planning and consultation processes will be delivered in Warwickshire, will be provided at a series of open events held throughout the county:

Dunchurch, Dunchurch Junior School, 21st February, 6pm to 8pm
Middleton, Middleton Hall, 22nd February, 6pm to 8pm
Shipston, The Townsend Hall, 27th February, 6pm to 8pm
Leamington Spa, Healthy Living Centre, 2nd March, 6pm to 8pm
Nuneaton, Newtown Centre, 3rd March, 6pm to 8pm
Southam, The Grange Hall, 7th March, 6pm to 8pm
Bidford, Crawford Hall, 10th March, 6pm to 8pm

Anyone unable to attend these meetings, but interested in becoming a member of the Minerals Development Forum, should contact Warwickshire County Council’s Strategy Unit on 01926 412538 by 17th March 2006 to register an interest. 
Anyone interested to express their views in writing may complete and return the “Minerals Development Framework: Preliminary Questionnaire” by 3rd April 2006.

The questionnaire is available from local council offices or libraries or on-line at http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/mineralscorestrategy from 20th February 2006.
Alternatively telephone 01926 412538 or email planningstrategy@warwickshire.gov.uk for further information.

Link to WCC