A PROPOSAL for a large areas of London Colney to be designated as sites for mineral extraction is to be opposed by London Colney Parish Council and the county councillor for the village.

The Minerals Local Plan Review has named an area to the west of London Colney south of Napsbury Hospital, one to the north east of London Colney, one to the south east of St Albans near Tyttenhanger and an area to the north east of Junction 22 of the M25 and one near to Salisbury Hall as a potential sites for the extraction of gravel.

Ms Rosie Sanderson, a Hertfordshire County Councillor who represents London Colney, has branded the site proposals "totally inappropriate" and said that with the history of gravel extraction in area, locals have had enough.

She said: "The most important issue is that the suggested sites are very close to existing residential developments, and so both myself and London Colney Parish Council are strongly opposed to them."

Some of the main concerns with the proposals are the lack of access to and from the some of the sites and their proximity to homes.

One of the sites is also near to both Nicholas Brakespear School in Colney Heath Lane and Francis Bacon School on Drakes Drive.

Ms Sanderson also voiced concern over its closeness to the Napsbury Hospital grounds which are due to be developed into housing in the near future.

She said: "I am worried about all the dirt and dust that the site would generate, not to mention the heavy lorries and increased traffic, particularly as it would be so close to where people live and go to school."

There are also concerns that the Highfield site proposals include no appropriate measures for lorry access.

And there is concern over the fact that if it were to be included as a designated site for extraction then it would entirey surround the village of Tyttenhanger.

Twenty one sites in all have been put forward for Hertfordshire's five-yearly mineral and gravel extraction plan.

Only the minority of these sites will eventually be designated for this use, once their suitablities are weighed up.

Responses to the proposed sites must be submitted by January 4 and final decisions on which to use will be made next year.

December 13, 2001 10:00