Shire Oak Quarries Ltd plan to extract millions of tonnes of rock from
the dis-used quarry and ship it up to Swansea for a Tidal Lagoon
project.
Derek, who visited Dean Quarry to see for himself what is proposed
said "I parked my car in Ronenithon and walked a short distant to the
quarry. The proximity of the quarry to local homes is reason enough
for this plan to be stopped dead in its tracks."
Following his visit to the quarry Derek met with a number of local
residents at his 'Meet-the-Candidate' event. Derek heard how local
people recognised that Dean Quarry had a license to operate and do not
object to the quarry being reopened. However, the current proposals,
which include a new 600m breakwater, a large fuel storage facility and
the extraction of potentially 1.5m tonnes of rock each year, totally
eclipse what the quarry has been used for in the past and what local
residents are used to.
Derek continued 'My main priority is to see an increase in the number
of skilled, well paid jobs in West Cornwall. However, we should not
accept new jobs at any price. The Dean Quarry plan may create jobs
that may go to local people but this does not justify the threat our
tourism industry would be exposed to -an industry that nearly every
household affected by this scheme relies on. It may be difficult in
law to rescind Dean Quarry's licence to operate, but nothing should be
done to facilitate it.
Since his meeting with local residents Derek has met with Fisheries
Minister, George Eustice MP and spoken to the incoming Chief Officer
of IFCA (Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority), Sam Davies.
'The intended breakwater sits very close to a recently established and
very important Marine Conservation Zone. Both IFCA and the Marine
Management Organisation have a part to play in relation to the
intended breakwater and I want to be sure that everyone concerned is
well aware of the potential impact of what Shire Oak Quarries Ltd
intend to do.'