County council officers had recommended approval of an application by Tarmac to extract more than two million tonnes of sand and gravel from 500 acres of agricultural land north of the city, over a period of up to 15 years.

But the proposals ran into all-out opposition from objectors at a meeting of the county planning committee on Tuesday, before facing strong criticism from councillors.

And the committee voted 8-0, with two abstentions, to refuse planning permission for the controversial project.

One county councillor said it would be a 'rape of the countryside,' and another compared it to the 'ravaging and pillaging' of the Vikings.

Protesters who have been campaigning against the plans for the past 18 months said they were overjoyed they had been thrown out and said they were prepared to continue the fight if Tarmac wanted to appeal.

RAGE member Marion McQuaide said: "We are all elated and I am absolutely exhausted. This is fabulous news. We all thought we had a strong case but we were really shocked when we found out the plans were refused. If Tarmac want to appeal against it we will fight it – bring it on."

Grounds for refusal agreed by the committee included the 'unacceptably adverse' effect the development would have on the locality.

CAMPAIGNERS' JOY
- Chichester Society chairman Tony Dignum: "The processing plant would be ugly, and very large – 9m high, taller than a three-storey house, and much higher than proposed bunds. Noise from the plant would be considerable, and it would ruin any enjoyment of the area for at least 14 years."

- Dr Andrew Chipperfield, representing Lavant Parish Council: "This will have a significant impact on our enjoyment of where we live."

- Bill Tarry, representing residents of Westhampnett Road, Spitalfield Lane and Bishopsgate: "We regard the proposal to truck aggregates through the centre of Chichester as totally unacceptable."

- Margaret Whitehead, chairman of Summersdale Residents' Association: "This would industrialise the strategic gap between Chichester and the area of outstanding natural beauty."

- Cllr Andrew Barrett-Miles: "Who wants 84 more trucks a day trundling past their front doors? This will have a major effect on a residential part of Chichester."

- Cllr Bill Acraman: "This scheme was killed when the railway line was killed."

- Cllr Peter Green: "Why do we want to put a quarry and processing plant into an area which has already been quarried and restored?"

- Lavant resident Nick Reynolds: "The site is remote from trunk road access, and a satisfactory connecting route does not exist. There is not a satisfactory solution for taking gravel off the site – it will bring damage to many for the benefit of the few."


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