Stop the A429 Quarry

Stop 1,200 heavy lorries a week, plus delays from new traffic lights, on the A429 from the quarry towards Wellesbourne & the M40.

Sign up here to be notified when and how to object to the latest application when it's lodged.  2,500 previous objectors need to OBJECT AGAIN!
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You can provide financial support to the campaign to Stop the Quarry via BACS to:
Account: Barford Residents Association
Sort Code 77-74-59    Account no. 01404960

or through GoFundMe (but GoFundMe takes part of your donation as a fee).
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Take Action Now!

The proposed quarry is not needed and yet poses significant threats to our communities — destroying farmland, harming wildlife, increasing traffic, and endangering health with air pollution.

Help protect the environment and preserve open countryside.

The negative impacts far outweigh any supposed benefits.
 

What's happening?

Smiths Concrete has lodged a planning application to create a quarry 2.5 times the size of Barford, situated between Barford and Wellesbourne.

It plans to excavate 1.8 million tons of sand and gravel from 220 acres of rich farmland, located just 350 yards from the villages of Barford and Wasperton. This excavation is projected to last for 10 to 15 years.

Where will it be? 

220 acres of prime farmland will be excavated over decades. That's 138 football pitches of countryside lost to heavy industry.

While the quarry will be situated just outside Barford, it will affect anyone who travels down the A429 or lives in the surrounding areas.

Traffic Impact

Every 10 minutes, a lorry will enter or leave the quarry site.
New traffic lights will be installed, causing frequent stops on the A429.

Recent temporary roadworks already showed the impact, with journey times increasing from 5 to 30 minutes.

This would become the new normal, with increased HGV traffic leading to more road damage, roadworks, and delays.
Is this quarry needed? 
No, there is no need for the proposed quarry. 

An economic analysis concludes that the existing supply of sand and gravel is sufficient to meet current and future demand.

Warwickshire already has approximately 15 years sand and gravel reserves and these materials can be recycled. Therefore, the proposed quarry is not justified or necessary.

Additionally, the proposed quarry would result in significant environmental and social costs, which outweigh any potential economic benefits.

The true cost...

Environment & Food Impact

220 acres of farmland will be devastated, disrupting local wildlife and increasing flood risk.

Dust and noise pollution will affect nearby communities, worsen air quality and the excavation threatens local water quality and rivers.

The site is currently highly productive, growing up to 6 crops per year which will be lost.

This quarry poses serious environmental risks that we and Warwickshire County Council must not ignore.

Health Impact

Prevailing winds will carry harmful particulate matter into nearby communities, which cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Exposure to pollutants like nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) will exacerbate asthma and bronchitis.

The quarry's operations will degrade air quality, increasing illness and premature deaths, especially among children and the elderly.

Professor Reza Ziarati - Chair of the Central England Air Quality People’s Chamber. 

Heritage Impact

Parts of heritage and vital wildlife habitats, including ancient hedgerows and significant historical sites, are threatened with destruction.

Increased noise and traffic will disrupt the peaceful ambiance of nearby historic villages, diminishing their cultural value and attractiveness.

The quarry poses a direct threat to these irreplaceable assets.