WELCOME [] · FAIRLOP UARRY RIGHTS OF WAY Current situation The Fairlop Waters Country Park was...

THE FUTURE OF FAIRLOP QUARRY

“Welcome to our exhibition about Fairlop Quarry.

These displays are part of a wider public consultation by Brett Tarmac Ltd on our proposed extension of Fairlop Quarry, on to land west of Aldborough Road North (Phase E) and west of Hainault Road (Phase F).

We will be seeking planning permission from London Borough of Redbridge (LBR) to quarry 2 new areas of land, with an anticipated total life of 8-9 years, including restoration.

We propose to continue to use our current vehicle access points, environmental management control systems and hours of operation.

The proposed new extensions would be restored to agricultural use in phases. The restoration scheme for the existing site would be enhanced to include opportunities for biodiversity and public amenity.

We welcome your feedback on our proposals. Please see the last display board to find out how you can let us know what you think about them.”

WELCOMEPublic consultation


INTRODUCTION Overview

Planning consent for sand and gravel extraction and processing was first granted in the 1950s. Fairlop Waters Country Park and Golf Course are both restored quarry areas. In 1985, extraction moved south to Phase A and then progressively through Phases B, C and D.

Typical output has been around 150,000 tonnes a year – and the consented mineral is now exhausted.

In its 2012 Minerals Local Plan, London Borough of Redbridge (LBR) has already allocated proposed new Phases E and F as preferred sites for mineral extraction.

Current operations involve ongoing restoration works in Phase D and at the readymix concrete plant site within the processing facility east of Hainault Road. There are also water treatment and site management facilities within Phase A, east of Hainault Road.

The building materials produced by the site are generally used to manufacture readymix concrete products for local construction and building projects, as well as civil engineering projects like roads, houses, schools and hospitals.


DELIVERING LONDON’S INFRASTRUCTUREMeeting aggregate needs

In 2013, London used approximately 9.4 million tonnes of primary (non recycled) aggregates – over 95% of which was imported in to the capital from across the UK. London’s own primary resources are severely limited.

Crushed rock is delivered by sea mainly from Scotland – and by rail from the West Country, Wales and the East Midlands. Sand and gravel from the seabed off East Anglia and south east England is unloaded at wharfs alongside the River Thames. Land-won sand and gravel is delivered in to London by road and rail, from the Home Counties and East Anglia.

There are only 4 London boroughs with economic reserves of sand and gravel – Havering, Redbridge, Hillingdon and Hounslow. These boroughs are required by the GLA to provide at least 5 million tonnes of sand and gravel up to 2031, at a rate of at least 700,000 tonnes a year. If permitted, the Fairlop site would provide 1 million tonnes of sand and gravel at a rate of 150,000 tonnes a year. It could therefore meet 20% of the supply requirements identified by the GLA over the period of the London Plan.


RETAIL

ASDA Romford

In 2012, the population of Redbridge was scheduled to increase by 23,000 by 2015. This would have generated a demand for 11,400 new homes and all the necessary supporting infrastructure for education, leisure, health, retail, transport, sewage and emergency services. None of these facilities can be developed without building materials.

LEISURE AND RECREATION

Cycling Centre, Redbridge

The high quality aggregates produced at Fairlop are suitable for the manufacture of high strength readymix concrete, which is the main end use for this material.

HOUSING

Barnardos Village Barkingside

We all depend on mineral products from quarries – which are used in construction, manufacturing, food and drink products and energy. The standard house in the UK typically uses an average of 50 tonnes of minerals, including 40 tonnes of sand and gravel. This is about 6 readymix concrete trucks per house.

TRANSPORT

Crossrail

There will be 4 Crossrail stations in Redbridge – at Ilford, Seven Kings, Goodmayes and Chadwell Heath – with associated high quality landscaping around all the stations. The delivery of these developments will require significant volumes of building materials – which will be more sustainable if they are produced close to where they need to be used.

LOCAL MATERIALS FOR KEY INFRASTRUCTURE


WHAT WE DO Operations

SOIL STRIPPING

We carefully strip the soils, subsoils and overburden and either store them – or directly place them as part of future restoration works. Land not immediately required for extraction remains in agricultural use until needed.

EXTRACTION

We start by placing soil screening mounds around a new extraction area – and securely fencing it.

Heavy mobile earthmoving equipment is used to extract the sand and gravel from both above and below the water table.

TRANSFER

We use dump trucks to transfer the as-dug materials to the existing processing plant, via the Hainault Road conveyor bridge. Where necessary, internal roads are damped down by our on-site water bowser.

PROCESSING PLANT

The processing plant washes and grades the as-dug sand and gravel to different sizes of building materials. The processed mineral is then stockpiled – and transferred to the on-site readymix concrete plant, or taken off site. All aggregate lorries are sheeted and exit the site via the main access road on to Hainault Road.


WHAT WE DO Mitigation

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

An Environmental Statement produced by independent consultants will be submitted with the planning application. It looks at the design of the proposals and identifies potential impacts and best practice mitigation. These would include appropriate stand offs – which are proposed independently according to site circumstances – such as the distance between operations and neighbouring properties.

GROUNDWATER MONITORING

Regular ground and surface water monitoring – for both water levels and water quality – is carried out by Brett Tarmac and the Environment Agency to meet the planning and environmental permitting controls. The monitoring network covers – and will continue to cover – both the existing and the proposed operations – and will be continued post restoration.

WATER BOWSER

Where necessary, the internal site roads are sprayed with water in dry conditions, using a water bowser pulled by a tractor. Road sweepers regularly sweep the public highway either side of the site entrances off Hainault Road.

LANDSCAPE BUNDS

Stores of stripped soils (bunds) are set aside for use in future restoration works. These soil stores are carefully placed and shaped to act as highly effective acoustic and visual screening barriers. The bunds are seeded and managed throughout the site life.


WHAT WE DO Restoration

PROGRESSIVE RESTORATION

Restoration operations are planned as carefully as extraction. Inert restoration materials – typically soils or clays from excavation and construction projects – like foundations and tunnelling – are carefully sourced. Mobile earthmoving equipment lays these materials down in layers and shapes them to create the basis of the final landform

AGRICULTURAL RESTORATION

Historically, in line with national policy, restoration activities have focused on returning areas with high quality (best and most versatile) soils to agriculture. This approach would be maintained throughout the proposed future restoration plans.

BIODIVERSITY

It is well recognised that both operating and restored quarries can provide biodiversity opportunities, which are not otherwise easily available in relatively built up areas. The revised restoration would include nature conservation objectives which would contribute towards meeting the habitat and species requirements of the Redbridge Biodiversity Action Plan..

AMENITY

Fairlop Waters Country Park and the adjacent golf course are both restored quarry areas. The current restoration plan for Phase D includes a new permissive route, which is currently under construction. The long term objective is to provide a holistic approach to the restoration of all currently unrestored land.

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PROPOSED OPERATIONS

OVERVIEW

The principles of phased extraction and progressive restoration - as used at the existing consented site - would apply to the proposed scheme.

The development would involve the extraction of around 1 million tonnes of sand and gravel from 2 working phases (Phases E and F), over 6 - 7 years, with a further 1 - 2 years to complete final restoration.

Phase F (19 acres) contains around 100,000 tonnes of sand and gravel. Phase E (36.8 acres) contains around 900,000 tonnes of sand and gravel.

The rest of the application site covers the existing processing plant site, access points off Hainault Road, the internal access routes and conveyor, water management areas – Phase A (East) and Phase D – and areas for amenity soil bunding.

PROPOSED PHASE F

Before sand and gravel extraction, soils would be stripped and used to create perimeter screening bunds. The extraction operations would then take place behind the bunds. The existing conveyor would transport the mineral to the existing processing plant. This would be complemented by a dedicated haul road to and from Phase F.

Some of the void from the early extraction of Phase F would be used for silt settlement from the sand and gravel processing from Phases E and F.

The initial extraction would take about 1 year – including soil stripping. Extraction operations would then move to Phase E. Phase F would be capped using nearby clay materials, before soils are spread to re-create the existing arable farmland.

Phase F, Proposed Working Plan


PROPOSED PHASE E

Land not immediately required for extraction would remain in agricultural use until needed. The same applies to the route of Footpath 94, which runs through the proposed extraction area.

The existing haul road and conveyor network would be extended and enhanced to transport the sand and gravel safely and efficiently back to the processing plant.

The Phase E extraction scheme has been designed to safeguard the amenity of nearby houses and communities. The working scheme includes the use of appropriate standoffs – and landscaped bunds to mitigate any potential noise, dust and visual impacts.

The sand and gravel would be worked in phases over a period of 6 years, with a further period of up to 2 years to complete restoration.

The scheme includes features such as clay walls and recharge trenches to minimise potential hydrological impacts and ensure the stability of St Peter’s Church and residential premises – both during and after operations. Elements of Phase D would be retained to support water management requirements in Phase E.

The extraction process would be the same as that previously used elsewhere on the site. Specially selected plant and equipment would reduce the scope for noise and dust emissions during all stages of the operations.


RIGHTS OF WAYCurrent situation

The Fairlop Waters Country Park was created by previous mineral extraction. Its range of leisure facilities is accessible via a network of public and permissive rights of way, including cycle routes.

If consent is granted for the Phase E extension, there would be interaction with some of these rights of way, specifically Footpath 94.

To extract the sand and gravel in Phase E as safely as possible, Brett Tarmac would seek a temporary diversion of the bridleway called FP94 during the operation of Phases E4 and E5. The diversion would last for 3 - 4 years and would involve closing 320 metres of FP94 and diverting it for 970 metres. FP94 would be reinstated to its original route once works are complete in Phase E. The diversion route would also be retained.

The plans therefore include a link path from Footpath 97 to the proposed diversion route, to reduce walking distances for people living in the west of Aldborough Hatch.


RIGHTS OF WAYProposed enhancements

Both the proposed diversion – and the link – would be retained in perpetuity, providing long term benefits to the local area. These new routes could be integrated into existing walks and trails, such as the Aldborough Walk and Barkingside Route 7.

The existing ditch would separate the proposed haul road north of Phase E from the Sustrans cycle route.

The haul road would also cross a permissive bridle route north and east of the Aldborough Hall Equestrian Centre. In similar situations at other minerals sites, it has been demonstrated that installing and using a priority crossing minimises any potential impacts.


WHAT WE DO Hydrogeology

MINERAL EXTRACTION

• Using proven technology, a barrier will be installed around Phase E. This will prevent any poor quality groundwater draining into the quarry during the development.

• A recharge trench will be installed towards the south. This will make sure groundwater levels remains at existing levels, to prevent off site drawdown to the south, particularly below St Peter’s Church.

RESTORATION

• The quarry void will be restored to existing ground levels, using on site materials and strictly controlled imported inert materials.

• Rainfall running off the restored surface will be captured by drainage channels and diverted to low lying areas. Run off can then drain back into the remaining sand and gravel, to facilitate high quality restoration.

• The clay walls around the perimeter of Phase E will stay in situ.

CURRENT SETTING

• The proposed development at Fairlop Quarry would include sand and gravel extraction, followed by restoration primarily to agricultural land.

• Some of the mineral contains groundwater – from rain falling on Fairlop Quarry and surrounding areas.

• Groundwater is routinely monitored using boreholes installed around the edges of the site.

GROUNDWATER FLOW

• Across the site, groundwater flows can be towards the Seven Kings Water or the Cran Brook.

• Specific measures are identified to minimise any impacts from the proposed scheme on the surrounding environment, including:

- not significantly lowering groundwater levels - not increasing flood risk- adequately treating any potentially

contaminated groundwater before it leaves the site.


ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS

NOISE MONITORING

Existing site operations are already tightly controlled and regulated through the planning consent and environmental permit.

These controls would be extended over Phase E and F operations. They would be enhanced to include specific mitigation, management and monitoring controls, under a management plan agreed with LBR and the Environment Agency.

DUST MONITORING

The proximity of the proposed extraction operations to houses in Aldborough Hatch, means stand offs would be maintained throughout operations and restoration. Plant and equipment would be especially selected to minimise any impact on neighbouring residential and amenity areas.

ST PETER’S CHURCH

A 100 metre stand off would be maintained to the listed St Peter’s Church, south of Phase E. A recharge trench would be developed close to the extraction site, to maintain groundwater levels in this area. Condition surveys will be carried out before, during and after the operations to monitor the condition and fabric of the church.

AMENITY BUNDS

The proposed scheme would include appropriately designed soil bunds. These would have the dual function of soil storage – and minimising any visual and noise impacts. The bunds would be up to 5 metres high and graded to encourage the growth of a grass seed mix, which would be maintained and managed as appropriate.


RESTORATION MATERIALS

SPREADING OF INERT RESTORATION MATERIALS

Progressive restoration to the approved levels – using a combination of materials from the site and imported inert materials – follows closely behind phased extraction. They are laid down in layers to achieve the approved levels.

INERT RESTORATION MATERIALS

Imported restoration materials are typically inert soils and clays from large excavation contracts or local development projects.

PAPERWORK CHECK

Suitable, uncontaminated restoration materials are sourced in line with the appropriate Waste Acceptance Criteria. The load is visually checked at both the weighbridge – and when it is deposited at the restoration area. Unsuitable materials are returned to the customer.

REGULATORY CONTROL

Importation of inert restoration materials is regulated and audited by the Environment Agency under the terms of an Environmental Permit. The Environment Agency also audits the site to check compliance. LBR also monitors restoration operations against the relevant planning conditions.


PROPOSED RESTORATIONPhases E, F & plant site


Phased extraction would be followed by progressive restoration to a high standard.

Layered restoration materials would be covered with subsoils and topsoils previously stripped from the site – and stored in bunds to achieve the final approved restoration contours. The restored area would initially be seeded with a ley grass mix to establish the soil structure.

HIGH QUALITY SOILS

In line with national policy, historic restoration at Fairlop has focused on returning areas of high quality soils – like those within Phases E & F – back to productive agricultural use.

The same approach would be used within Phases E and F and to restore the processing plant area.

BRETT LAFARGE LTD FAIRLOP QUARRY NTS A3 NOV 2015

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REPRESENTATIVE VIEWPOINTS (SHEET 4)

VIEWPOINT 11

VIEWPOINT 10

VIEWPOINT 9

LV 6D

PHASE E EXTENSION AREA BEYOND HEDGE

PHASE E EXTENSION AREA

PHASE E EXTENSION AREA BEYOND HEDGE


Phased extraction would be followed by progressive restoration to a high standard.

Layered restoration materials would be covered with subsoils and topsoils previously stripped from the site to achieve the final approved restoration contours. The restored area would either be seeded with a ley grass mix or planted with an arable crop.

HIGH QUALITY SOILS

In line with national policy, historic restoration at Fairlop has focused on returning areas of high quality soils – like those within Phases E & F – back to productive agricultural use.

The same approach would be used within Phases E and F and to restore the processing plant area.

NATURE CONSERVATION HABITATS

Although the focus is on restoration to agriculture, some nature conservation habitats would be included around the margins of the restored agricultural land in Phases E and F. This would be in line with current good husbandry practices.

LANDSCAPE CHARACTER

By reinstating the original agricultural landform, the scheme would protect local long term landscape character. Further benefits would be delivered by retaining, improving and managing the condition of existing boundary hedges. The provision and restoration of further rights of way in and around Phase E would provide long term visual enhancement.


ENHANCED RESTORATIONPhase A (East) & Phase D

The current, approved restoration scheme for Phase A (East) is agriculture based. For Phase D, the focus is more based on amenity grassland with public access. However, a hay crop would continue to be taken off this land.

Brett Tarmac has engaged with local stakeholders to propose concept plans which deliver different, enhanced schemes of restoration for these two areas.

In Phase D, the current scheme includes some water bodies and nature conservation habitats – with a secondary theme of recreation. The proposed scheme envisages more water based nature conservation habitats, to support the significant

numbers of overwintering birds on Fairlop Plain. The scheme retains the permissive routes which are being installed around Phase D.

In Phase A (East) the current approved scheme is to return the land to agricultural use. However, over time, the water body within this area has been naturally colonised by reedbeds and other wetland habitats of importance to a range of plants and animals.

These habitats would be retained and developed to create a ‘pocket park’ type environment, complete with a number of circular permissive routes that could, in the long term, connect with the adjacent country park.


IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

TREES FOR CITIES - PLANTING

Working in partnership with Trees for Cities, we supported the creation of a woodland belt and arboretum at Goodmayes Park. The project helped take forward targets for woodland creation and promotion.

TREES FOR CITIES - ONE YEAR ON

12,000 native whips and 18 large standard trees were planted. All the trees were carefully selected to provide specific opportunities for ageing, biodiversity, natural play, coppicing and hedgerows. The whips put on a huge growth spurt in just one year.

Brett Tarmac has always taken an active interest and involvement in the local communities around its sites. In October 2015, Tarmac awarded Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure £46,000 through the Landfill Communities Fund, to be used to enhance wildlife habitats and public access at Fairlop Waters Country Park. Here are some other examples of projects supported through our ongoing community relations programme in London Borough of Redbridge.

MOSAIC TURNKEY PROJECT

We funded a project in partnership with Mayfield School, to create and install a fitting mosaic to improve the aesthetic appeal of a functioning turnkey to the overall entrance to Goodmayes Park. 8 students worked on the project in their own time over 2 terms.

RODING VALLEY MEADOWS

A contribution was made towards interpretation and improved public access at the Essex Wildlife Trust Roding Valley Meadows Local Nature Reserve. This 160 acre reserve is the largest remaining water meadow in Essex and includes 10 miles of coppiced hedgerow. The marshy site is also home to many Southern Marsh Orchids.


The restoration concepts developed to support this planning application include several long term local community benefits.

Following consultation with local residents and special interest groups, these could potentially include:

• providing approx 2.2km (1.35 miles) of new permissive rights of way in Phases E and A (East), over and above that already created in Phase D

• creating a new link from Footpath 97 to improve access from Aldborough Hatch to Barkingside Station

• providing more choices of circular walks from the established Aldborough Walk and Barkingside Route 7

• creating an off-road network of paths and routes from Aldborough Hatch to Fairlop Country Park, through and around Phase D and Phase A (East)

• developing new parking facilities close to Fairlop Country Park as part of Phase A (East)

• enhancing biodiversity opportunities by creating new habitats for birds, amphibians and other wildlife species. Providing interpretation facilities where appropriate.

DIRECT COMMUNITY BENEFITS


We will:

• evaluate feedback

• review and finalise all planning documents

• produce a Non Technical Summary

• submit a full planning application and Environmental Statement to London Borough of Redbridge – probably during spring/early summer 2016

• place key documents on the dedicated website tarmac.com/fairlop

• circulate hard copies of planning documents as requested.

London Borough of Redbridge will:

• validate and publicise the application as submitted

• send copies to statutory consultees and other interested parties

• evaluate all consultation responses and request further information from us if necessary

• consult on that information if appropriate

• produce a committee report with recommendations from the Planning Officer

• determine the application.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?


TELL US WHAT YOU THINK?

FURTHER INFORMATION

Copies of these display boards, other exhibition documents and the feedback form will be made available on the Tarmac website tarmac.com/fairlop

Once the application has been submitted, the Non Technical Summary will be put on the same website. The full application, the Environmental Statement and other supporting documents and plans will also be available from London Borough of Redbridge Planning Department.

YOUR FEEDBACK

We are interested in your feedback on our proposals – and how we have communicated them.

Please fill in one of our feedback forms and leave it in the box provided – or

• email us at [email protected]

• call us on 01206 332277 (24 hour answerphone)

• download the feedback form from tarmac.com/fairlop and email it to the dedicated email address above

• write to us at Brett Tarmac Warren Lane, Stanway, Colchester, Essex, CO3 0NN. Please mark correspondence for the attention of the Fairlop Consultation Team


EXISTING AND PROPOSED OPERATIONS

EXISTING AND PROPOSED OPERATIONS

WELCOME [] · FAIRLOP UARRY RIGHTS OF WAY Current situation The Fairlop Waters Country Park was...

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