Verwood Residents Protest Gravel Extraction

VERWOOD residents didn't so much see red as purple at a public meeting on Monday to discuss Hampshire County Council's suggestion that gravel could be extracted at the Purple Haze site. More than 300 residents filled Verwood Memorial Hall to hear from councillors and campaign organisers.

Resident Pam Smith said: "There were so many protesters that they ended up sitting on the floor, lining the aisles and filling the lobby."

The suggestion is for an area of forestry between Verwood and Ringwood and north of Moors Valley to become a quarry for 30 years and a landfill site for a further 30 years.

Mrs Smith said: "Many of the residents were worried about the quality of their family life as the site boundary would be no more than 400m away from their homes."

She added there were concerns about increased traffic on the B3081 with over 300 more lorries using the road each day.

Many paths in Moors Valley would be lost affecting local dog walkers and cyclists and much of the area's beautiful forests, heath and bog would go, along with its varied wildlife," added Pam.

Protesters were angry that they learned about the HCC proposals after the informal public opinion phase closed on 13th April.

Spencer Flower, who represents Verwood on both the district and county councils and who is also leader of East Dorset District Council said: "I agree with the concerns expressed at the meeting.

"Hampshire County Council said Purple Haze was a remote location, but it is close to 15,000 people and 100 metres from Moors Valley Country Park."

He advised residents to write to Hampshire County Council with their concerns and to join the campaigning groups set up to fight the Purple Haze quarry development.

visit http://www.no2purplehaze.co.uk for more information