CAMPAIGNERS fighting against the siting of a sand quarry in Euxton are

furious at a report which describes the impact of the development as

'negligible'.

Construction company Tarmac submitted a planning application for the

site between Runshaw Lane and Dawber's Lane with Lancashire County

Council last Wednesday.

Euxton Residents Against Sand Extraction (Erase) have attacked the

application which is backed by a comprehensive environmental impact

assessment study.

Erase steering committee member Bruce Carlin said: "Erase have reviewed

the application and find that Tarmac's consultants have concluded that

the extraction of over four million tonnes of sand over the next 16

years will have a 'negligible' effect on the village and its

inhabitants.

"The study focuses on a number of areas, but in each case, whether it is

the effect of noise, dust, traffic, hydrology, wildlife or landscape,

the problems are deemed to be well within acceptable guidelines.

"On traffic, the study concludes that a 32 per cent increase in the

number of HGVs entering the village via Dawbers Lane would be considered

only a slight impact in terms of intimidation of pedestrians and

cyclists."

Mr Carlin, who lives on Boarded Barn, Euxton, refuted these claims.

He said: "Erase believes that the reality for the village, its residents

an particularly parents taking children to th various schools on Wigan

Road and Balshaw Lane will be much more noticeable than 'negligible',

'neutral' or 'slight'.

Erase member, Geoff Ind, of Cedar Avenue, Euxton, said: "We will be

sending information to all households in the area recommending that they

object to this proposal in the strongest possible terms." In another

development Tarmac have announced a public consultation on the plans and

are holding two exhibition sessions for the public to view details of

the quarry proposals.

The exhibition is open to all who want to view plans and ask questions.

It will take place at St Mary's Social Club, Wigan Road, Euxton on

Thursday, April 7, between 5pm - 8pm and Friday, April 8, 1pm -8pm.

A spokesman for Tarmac said the exhibition will give the community a

chance to study the application and show other sites operated by Tarmac

and how they are successfully managed.