MP Andrew Lewin speaks out ahead of Ellenbrook Quarry inquiry

Mr Lewin hopes the council’s leadership listens and acts with those people “front of mind”, ahead of an inquiry for development on the site.

Ellenbrook Fields are part of the former Hatfield Aerodrome site that Brett Aggregates want to quarry – as part of plans to extract eight million tonnes of sand and gravel over a 32-year period.

Ellenbrook Quarry (Image: Vanessa Adorni Meader)

Although the application was turned down by the county council earlier this year, that refusal is due to be challenged at a planning inquiry in November.

On Tuesday, September 24, a meeting of the council’s development control committee is set to be presented with the latest ‘legal advice’ to have been received by the county council in relation to that inquiry.

That has prompted some concerns amongst residents and campaigners that the council may be set to roll back on its plans to defend its refusal of the application at the inquiry.

In a statement issued by Mr Lewin in advance of the committee meeting, he stresses his support for a “green future” for Ellenbrook Fields.

He points to his support for the campaign against the quarry – which he says has included supporting residents groups, speaking at public meetings and making a submission to the planning inquiry.

But he stresses that the “power” on this issue lies with the county council.

“Instead of another quarry, I want to see this valuable site protected for residents as a country park, in a part of Hatfield which lacks access to nature,” he says.

He goes on to say:  “As the MP for Welwyn Hatfield, I will always make my voice heard, but the power on this issue lies with Hertfordshire County Council, which is led by the Conservative Party.”

The former Hatfield Aerodrome site – which sits between Ellenbrook and Smallford – is one of a small number of potential quarry sites included in the council’s minerals plan.

But Mr Lewin argues that the site should have been removed from the plan.

“I have long argued that the best way to protect Ellenbrook was to remove the site from the county wide ‘minerals plan’, which details sites for quarrying across the constituency,” he said.

“The county council had months to do this, but have not done so.

“That decision emboldened Brett Aggregates and I believe the minerals plan is why they returned with their latest application, despite it being rejected both by councillors and a previous Planning Inspector.”

He concludes: “Local people will expect the county council to do all they can to make the case for protecting their green oasis at Ellenbrook Fields.

“In the weeks to come, I hope the leadership listens and acts with those people front of mind.”

As part of the controversial application for the former Aerodrome site, Brett are seeking permission to extract material over 32 years and to bring in ‘inert waste’ to re-instate ground levels.

The application also includes plans for a new access on to the A1057, an aggregate processing plant and other facilities.

It includes plans for a phased approach – meaning areas of the site would be accessible to ramblers, dog walkers and others throughout the 32 year period.

In refusing the most recent application, the council had pointed to reasons that included impact on the Green Belt, heritage, residential amenity, and landscape character.

They also pointed to biodiversity, public access, the highway and groundwater.

A ten-day Planning Inquiry to determine whether – or not – the council’s refusal of the application to quarry the site should be overturned is due to begin on November 19.

The meeting of the county council’s development control committee – where the legal advice will be presented – is to be held on Tuesday (September 24).

Commenting on that meeting a spokesperson for the county council said: “The council’s development control committee considered a second planning application for a quarry at the site of the former Hatfield Aerodrome and took the decision to refuse permission.

“This decision was appealed by the applicant and the appeal is to be considered by the Planning Inspectorate later this year. 

“Councillors will be considering legal advice in relation to the forthcoming planning appeal at the next meeting of the committee on September 24.”