Limited opposition expected to new quarry at Chouet
VALE’S senior constable has said he expects opposition to opening a new granite quarry at Chouet will be limited.
Plans from Ronez were published by the Development & Planning Authority last week and are open for representations.
The company is looking to work the site in three phases – two in the first dozen years to produce 1.3m. tonnes of high quality granite, and then potentially another 35-40 years to quarry the rest of the headland.
Vale constable Richard Leale said the location would affect the fewest number of people possible.
‘It’s got to go somewhere. I wouldn’t have thought there would be many representations against it,’ he said.
There are two houses within the area, which spans 53 vergees, which will need to be demolished in the process and the green waste site will be relocated across the road at the Mont Cuet landfill.
‘There were concerns over the lorry movements, but it would be no more than those that currently operate around the tip. The difference is they would be heavy lorries carrying stone,’ said Mr Leale.
The grassland area to the west of the site is used by a model aeroplane club and includes benches and picnic tables.
‘The model aircraft club were not happy at first, but I think they are safe where they are for now. If Ronez decide to extend the site, which is possible, they would be relocated.’
Access would also remain to the Martello tower and other heritage interests, and the pistol club.
Roc Salt restaurant sits just on the boundary of the proposed plans, metres away from one of the blast sites, which also has a coastal path running through it.
The path would be accessible throughout the development and would only be closed for periods of about 15 minutes while blasting is taking place.
‘The impression of the douzaine is that Ronez would do their utmost to be good neighbours,’ said Mr Leale.
The States agreed last autumn to support on-island stone extraction for future supply of aggregate for Guernsey. The proposals detail work taking place in two phases, while the third and final phase would be subject to review in about 10 years based on whether quarrying on-island continues to be the best option.
Representations on the proposals need to be made by 17 August.
