BOSSES behind a controversial quarry which campaigners claim would turn a local road into a death-trap have revealed they are considering appealing against a decision to throw out the plans.

Dave Gooderham

BOSSES behind a controversial quarry which campaigners claim would turn a local road into a death-trap have revealed they are considering appealing against a decision to throw out the plans.

Brett Aggregates last night said it would be scrutinising the decision to turn down the sand and gravel quarry plan in Chilton, near Sudbury, describing the Suffolk County Council ruling as “disappointing”.

Local residents celebrated after the authority's development control committee rejected the proposal, claiming it would have a severe impact on the adjoining A134.

Villagers from Chilton, Great Waldingfield and Newton turned out in force at the county council meeting, which heard concerns from committee member, Morris Rose, who said the quarry would make the A134 “suicidal” thanks to an increase in heavy goods vehicles turning on to the 60mph road.

But the company behind the scheme told the EADT it had adhered to council policy.

Martin Drury, director of Brett Aggregates, said: “We will think carefully about the validity and the reasons why the decision was made and we have six months to reach some conclusions. We can confirm that some form of appeal is something we are considering.

“We made our application totally in accordance with policy and all the other requirements and that is why the county council had a professional recommendation to approve the application made before the meeting.

“We are aware of the local concern but we have been working for the last three of four years to try and deal with this. Our final application took this into account.”

The company had planned to extract one million tonnes of sand and gravel from a 39-hectare, county council-owned site but councillors voiced their fears that the plans would mean dozens of extra lorries using the A134.

Peter Clifford, chairman of Chilton Parish Council, said he was not surprised that an appeal was being considered. He stressed: “I hope Brett will take into consideration that every local councillor voted unanimously against this proposal - reflecting the concerns from the local population.”