Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Where will any new quarries be located?

A consultation on potential sites for sand and gravel extraction has just commenced and runs for eight weeks.

The plan is at an early stage and proposes potential site options for minerals extraction. At this stage none of the sites listed in this document have any firm planning status - i.e. they are not the councils' preferred sites, but areas of land that have been promoted for consideration by landowners and the minerals industry.

The potential sites fall within the electoral divisions of:

• Alderbury and Whiteparish

• Winterslow

• Minety

• Cricklade and Latton

• Bromham, Rowde and Potterne

• Melksham Without North

• Calne Rural

• Calne South and Cherhill

• Melksham Without South

• Corsham Without and Box Hill

• Chippenham, Lowden and Rowden

• Kington

The consultation report identifies key issues and constraints for development of each of the proposed sites and represents the first opportunity for communities and organisations to give their views on the suitability of the sites.

You can view and comment on the report via the online portal by clicking here. The report will be also be available for viewing at Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council main offices and libraries throughout the county and borough.

The comments received will be used to help inform the scope of further detailed assessments on the potential sites. This in turn will inform which sites should be carried forward into the formal plan and which should be dropped. A formal draft of the Aggregate Minerals Site Allocations DPD, presenting the sites selected to be carried forward, is due for publication and consultation in spring 2011.

Further information is available from the Minerals and Waste Policy team on 01225 713429, or mineralsandwastepolicy@wiltshire.gov.uk