Suffolk County Council slammed for Bentley quarry costs

It has been revealed that about £6,000 in legal fees has been spent so far by Suffolk County Council - including £5,000 of its own costs - after a decision on the quarry at Brockley Wood, in Bentley, was appealed.

A High Court judge sided with Bentley Parish Council and Copdock and Washbrook Parish Council, but the application is expected to be revisited by the county council's planning committee before the end of the year. 

Cllr Christopher Hudson (Image: SCC)

Christopher Hudson, who represents the Belstead Brook division at Suffolk County Council, has described the fees as "an appalling waste". 

He said: "Why should the public purse be stuffed for six figures? It is public money.

"This is an appalling waste of public money. How do we get that money back in the public purse and how much are we going to waste? It is a 1,000 year old wood."

An estimated three million tonnes of sand and gravel would have been extracted from the quarry if it was given the go-ahead. 

More than 120 objections were received during the application process. 

Mr Hudson added: "The Brockley Wood (scheme) is a bad idea and it should never have been put forward. 

"It is an environmental catastrophe."

Concerns surrounded the proposed lorry routes, which included narrow country lanes. 

Marianne Munday said Bentley Parish Council had “major concerns” about HGV movements, while Adrian Ward, of Copdock and Washbrook Parish Council, added an estimated 160 lorries would be using the routes provided. 

A Suffolk County Council spokesperson said: “Suffolk County Council considered its position and agreed that the committee required more evidence about how LP18 had been taken into account, including the consideration of the Valued Landscape Assessment.

"Therefore, the authority agreed to no longer contest this claim."

According to the original planning statement, policy LP18 relates to the biodiversity and geodiversity of the land.