Alderholt residents oppose Cemex plans to build extraction site

Concrete supplier Cemex held a public exhibition at Alderholt Village Hall on Monday, October 16, to share plans to build a sand and gravel extraction site at Midgham Farm in Hampshire.

This comes as Hampshire County Council invited expressions of interest for new sites as part of a review of its Minerals and Waste Plan.

Residents were presented with information about the plans and concerns were raised about traffic, ecology and how it may affect house prices.
It was the second public exhibition showcasing the plans. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

The proposed site would be extracted in 15 phases. (Image: Cemex)

Cemex said Midgham Farm would be extracted over 15 years at a similar rate to its other nearby site at Hamer Warren when it's finished which would not result in a significant increase in HGVs on the local road network.

David Done, 76, has lived in Alderholt for 33 years and described it as an "orphan village" since it sits on the border of Dorset and Hampshire but has a Salisbury postcode.

Midgham Farm is on the border of Hampshire and Mr Done's neighbour Jeremy Evans, 65, is concerned that the county council does not have a "vested interest" in helping Dorset residents.

David Done and Jeremy Evans. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

Around 250,000 tonnes of mineral would be extracted every year and Cemex said it would start quarrying in 2025/2026 if its application is approved by Hampshire County Council.

Margaret Reed, 66, lives with her husband and 90-year-old father in Alderholt. She said: "Our house shakes now from the lorry movement. This is a quiet, rural area and it can't take the housing and extraction plans at the same time."

Margaret Reed is worried about how HGV traffic could affect her 90-year-old father. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

Earlier this year, Dudsbury Homes submitted a planning application to Dorset Council to build 1,500 homes in Alderholt.

Fordingbridge councillor Anna Wilson highlighted how the extraction site was proposed in 1987 and 1995 but it was rejected.

Councillors Anna Wilson and Phil Woods. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

New Forest District councillor Phil Woods, for Fordingbridge, Godshill and Hyde, said: “My understanding previously was this was the site of least interest.

"Of all the sites that we discussed this had the most objections. If democracy works we should have a leg to stand on."

Now, Cemex said Midgham Farm is the only site considered for extraction.

Marilyn Prebble, 71, and Penny Pannell, 79, live near the proposed site in Harbridge.

Penny Pannell and Marilyn Prebble do not want the plans to be approved. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

Mrs Prebble said driving along Hillbury Road is "terrifying" due the the blind bends and thinks a new extraction site would result in more lorries going past her Grade-II listed house, built in 1750.

She added: "It's a fatal accident waiting to happen. I can feel the vibrations in my house when the cars go past. The infrastructure just won't stand up to the lorries.

"If you want to sell your house, you can’t. It will have an impact."

A spokesperson for Cemex said: "The quarry would be progressively restored, which would see a variety of new habitats created as well as establishing important ecological corridors – this is in addition to returning much of the land back to agricultural use.

“Cemex is committed to keeping residents updated on its plans and has launched a two-week public consultation, including two public exhibitions in Alderholt and Fordingbridge, to listen to the views of the local community before any planning application is submitted to HCC.”