Email error delays quarry expansion bid

14 hours ago

Christine SextonLocal Democracy reporter

News image — Buckingham Hill Pit could be filled with sand if plans are approved by Thurrock Council

Jamie Robins Buckingham Hill Pit has tall, layered verges made up of sand and grass. There are small trees, shrubs and bushes there. It is a former quarry. — Buckingham Hill Pit could be filled with sand if plans are approved by Thurrock Council

Environmental campaigners have welcomed an unexpected delay over plans to expand a quarry in Essex.

Thurrock Council has postponed a decision on the application to extend Orsett Quarry and fill in the Buckingham Hill Pit Local Wildlife site.

The delay happened after an administration error meant notification letters were sent to the wrong addresses.

Some residents had not received the required notice before the planning committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

The council apologised for the error, which saw some households receive multiple letters addressed to different people while others received none, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The application is now set to be considered on 24 February.

The delay has been welcomed by wildlife charity Buglife, which has long opposed the plans.

The charity's Jamie Robins said the pause gave councillors time to fully consider the ecological impact of the proposals.

"We welcome Thurrock Council deciding to delay the decision that would see the important Buckingham Hill Pit Local Wildlife Site infilled," he said.

"It is vital that consultees and local residents get the opportunity to submit their comments for such potentially impactful planning cases."

Robins urged councillors to "look properly into the details" of the site's rare invertebrate populations, and he said the loss of another wildlife site in the area would be "devastating".