Dust from stone-crushing site sparks health concerns

A stone-crushing company's plans to permanently use a city location have been rejected over dust‑related health concerns.

Allstone's site on Myers Road in Gloucester is surrounded by homes. Gloucestershire County Council's planning committee was told earlier that residents have been complaining for years about the impact of dust created by the company.

Councillor Anne Radley said one family told her their child developed breathing problems after moving to the area.

Simon Ford, CEO of Allstone, said the company takes issues relating to noise, traffic movements, and air quality "extremely seriously".

Officers recommended councillors refuse permission for the company to permanently remain at its current location because the negatives of the site outweighed its positives, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Officers also said the company conflicted with the council's planning policies due to its visual impact and the impact on transport, landscape and amenity protection.

Radley said people living nearby have reported issues regarding dust for years.

"The one that broke my heart was a family that was saying that they've moved to the area," she said.

"Their little one had no problems with their breathing, no problems at all. They moved into Swallow Park and suddenly their little one has got problems with breathing that they've never had before."

Jeremy Hilton, county councillor for Kingsholm and Wotton, said he had no objections to the business itself but did not believe it is in the right location.

"It's trying to squeeze in a really big industrial operation in a community surrounded by houses," Hilton said.

He added the council only approved for the company to operate for nine-and-a-half years, but it has already been open for 15 years.

"Every time there is an application, they are operating too late and they don't comply with the original permission.

"Once they finish their permission they should clear the site and return it to as it was before," he said.

Hilton said he was sure they could find somewhere else in Gloucestershire which is more suitable for stone crushing.

Ford, Allstone's CEO, said he was "disappointed that certain aspects of the current submission may not have given officers and consultees the full confidence they need".

Councillors voted unanimously to reject the proposal.

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