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West Berkshire Council announces Public Consultation on Proposed Submission for Minerals and Waste Local Plan

Residents in West Berkshire are being asked for their views on proposals for a planned, sustainable framework for minerals and waste management in the district up until 2037.

To help guide future development across the district, West Berkshire Council sets out the policy context for assessing planning applications for minerals and waste development following the national planning policy. Known as the Minerals and Waste Local Plan (Proposed Submission), the document also proposes where minerals can be extracted within the district and consider the need for the management of domestic, commercial and construction waste.

A consultation has been launched to read the plan, the supporting evidence base and take part in the consultation, residents are invited to visit the link Minerals and Waste Local Plan - Proposed Submission. The plan proposes new sites for extracting sand and gravel at Tidney Bed, near Sulhamstead and another for sand extraction behind Chieveley Services.

Given that the minerals are a finite resource, the plan also encourages the construction industry to use recycled and secondary aggregate materials as well as seeking alternative construction methods.

No new waste sites are proposed under the new plans, as existing needs are met. Speaking about the plan, Councillor Hilary Cole, Executive Member for Planning and Housing, said: "Living in a mostly rural and very beautiful area we need to think carefully about where we allow minerals to be extracted. In West Berkshire, we mostly have sand and gravel, which are vital for maintaining and building roads and homes for our communities. We need to strike a balance between allowing some mineral extraction and at the same time minimising the impact on the local area. "This includes promoting the use of recycled and secondary materials and other construction methods that don't use precious resources. The Minerals and Waste Local Plan will help us to achieve these aims with a sustainable development approach, and I would encourage residents to read the plan and share their views on it with us."

The Minerals and Waste Local Plan makes up part of the Development Plan for West Berkshire, a series of documents which sets out how the district will develop until 2037. It ensures that future development is coordinated and sustainable, as well as protecting development outside of the plan.

The plan includes specific policies for minerals and wastes development to minimise disruption to local communities and the natural environment. These include:

• Natural environment - mitigation against flooding and climate change • Transport - ensuring safe access to the site and that the road network can cope

• Public Rights of Way - preserving

Public Rights of Way and ensuring suitable diversions can be accommodated

• Agriculture - protecting the district's best and most versatile farmland.

Once activity at mineral and waste sites has concluded, site operators need to complete high-quality site restoration which could include landscaping, enhancing biodiversity in the area or by providing new or enhanced recreational or green space.

Following the consultation, the plan will be submitted to the Secretary of State for examination.

Once adopted the Minerals and Waste Local Plan will replace the Replacement Minerals Local Plan for Berkshire incorporating alterations adopted 1997 and 2001 (RMLP) and the Waste Local Plan for Berkshire adopted 1998 (WLPB) for planning decisions in West Berkshire.

Local Issues

Local Outbreak Control Plan

As part of the next stage of the national response to the Covid-19 pandemic, local authorities have to develop Local Outbreak Control Plans (LOCP) to prevent and control local outbreaks of the virus. We have worked with partners to publish our LOCP.

The plan summarises how we will aim to protect our residents and communities by minimising further spread or recurrence of Covid-19 across West Berkshire.

We know that Covid-19 is likely to be with us until better treatments and/ or a vaccine is available. It is therefore important that we all play our part in remaining vigilant and follow national and local guidance to keep us all safe.

The key aims of the plan are to detail roles and responsibilities in the prevention and management of Covid-19, recognise and respond to outbreaks and prevent the further spread and recurrence of infection.

Coordinated communication with the public, partners and the media will also be an integral part of the Outbreak Control Plan. Landowners, land managers, local authorities and public bodies can apply to the Forestry Commission for support to plant large-scale productive woodland under the Woodland Carbon Fund (WCF). Up to 40% of the remaining fund will be made available to public bodies and the remaining 60% will be available for applications from private owners. Public bodies other than Forestry England are now also eligible to include the second stage payment (see below) in their applications.

The scheme offers capital funding for the creation of new productive woodland for carbon sequestration. This includes the planting of trees and costs of protection items including tree guards, fencing and gates. You can also get funding for the installation of forest roads and recreational infrastructure.

A one-off capital payment of £1,000 per hectare is available in year 5 following successful establishment. This payment will not be available on land owned by Forestry England, but is available on land owned by other public authorities including land owned by the State, the Crown, County Councils, District Councils and Local Authorities.

Woodland Carbon Fund

How it works

• You can get capital funding for:

• planting trees

• protection items - tree guards, fencing and gates

• forest roads for maintenance access and infrastructure that encourages public use of the woodland

• £1,000 per hectare in year 5 after you’ve successfully established your woodland

Find out if you are eligible online access the full guidance

www.gov.uk/guidance/woodlandcarbon-fund 2021 so far has given us a mixture of frustration, hope and a new chapter in our island story. We have patiently been navigating another lockdown, although unlike previous lockdowns there is the light of hope at the end of this long tunnel: The vaccines continue to be injected into people’s arms at pace thanks to the collaboration of the army, NHS and local councils. It’s a huge and challenging task, and every jab is bringing us a step closer to defeating this terrible virus.

We are also embarking on a new chapter outside the EU. We left with a great deal, something many said couldn’t be done so quickly. This was quite a moment for our nation and whatever your views of Brexit, credit is due to our brilliant negotiating team and Prime Minister.

In a nutshell, the trade deal is worth more than £600 billion, has zero tariffs and quotas and will protect thousands of British jobs - including here in North West Hampshire. We now take back control of our laws, borders, trade and waters. We are out of the Customs Union and Single Market. We have ended the free movement of people and will replace it with a fair and compassionate points-based immigration system.

We promised to get Brexit done at the last election, and now we are a dynamic and sovereign nation with that promise fulfilled. Whichever way you voted, I hope we can all now come together and move forward in unity.

Frustration, hope and a new chapter in our island story