Whatley Quarry

The government has agreed another quarrying development in the east Mendip Hills - a Somerset County proposal to build a new road to run from the A361 at Nunnery through the minute settlement of Bulls Green to the cross roads at Mells Park Comer. The cross roads is the centre of a quarrying concentration near Leigh on Mendip. The road proposal is called the Bulls Green Link.

This is as well as the proposed expansion of Whatley quarry by ARC (Amey Roadstone Corporation) still set to take place despite widespread opposition both on a local and regional scale. Increasing levels of quarrying in the Mendip Hills will seriously affect the water table, potentially leading to Bath’s historic springs drying up and affecting Bristol’s drinking water supplies. This is in addition to more localised problems such as noise, dust and traffic pollution as well as destroying the surrounding natural environment. Stone taken from Whatley was used in the construction of the M3 extension through Twyford Down and in the building of the Batheaston Bypass. The campaign against the expansion/ARC is ongoing. The court cases which resulted from the mass EF! action at Whatley Quarry in December are now over. Of the 55 arrested and charged, (with Aggravated Trespass under the CJA and criminal damage) 28 have unfortunately been found guilty and were fined, 18 have either had their charges dropped or were found not guilty - a further 9 defendants proved to be untraceable!

For more information contact: 01749 880426.