Minutes of the Friends of Lea Marshes Tuesday 27th May 2025
Present: Pat Cribbb, Clare Holmes, John Turnbull, Sue Allison, Neil Allison, Mark Stephenson, Oliver Stephenson, Jill Martin, Kevin Martin, Jon Sanderson, Lyndsey Sanderson, Russell Wallis, Ann Wallis, Debbie Revill, Claire Hill, Karen Wickenden
1. Representative from Lea Parish Council opens the meeting Following the Village Annual General Meeting held Monday 19th May 2025, the attending parishioners of Lea voiced their opposition to the land at Lea Marshes, known as SG01, being developed as a Sand & Gravel Quarry.
2. Agreement to apply to Lea Parish Council for permission to form the working group Friends of Lea Marshes Everyone agreed to join a working group and exchange contact details. There will be an application to Lea Parish Council to form Friends of Lea Marshes.
3. Appointment of Key Roles and Responsibilities Chair: Karen Wickenden, preside over meetings and maintain orderly conduct. Coordinator: Claire Hill, facilitator and manager to ensure smooth operation. Lea Parish Council Liaison Officer: Jill Martin, minute taker and official communicator to Council.
4. Objectives - What do Friends of Lea Marshes want to achieve?
• Ensure continued protection of the SSSI at Lea Marshes. • Prevent increased heavy traffic on highways infrastructure.
• Prevent the disruptive noise and vibration associated with excavation.
• Prevent the release of dust and airborne particles. • Protect the receptors who will be negatively impacted.
• Preserve the tranquillity of the rural village landscape.
• Ensure that everyone in the village and other parties who might be affected are aware of the potential siting of the quarry. Why do they want to achieve those goals?
• Quarrying will alter the environment, destroy wildlife habitats and impact water resources.
• The proposed site is less than 200m from Lea Marsh SSSI and its connection to the Lea Marshes Main Drain.
• The site is predominately within Flood Zone 3 with a potential for flood depths in the high range. It may not be possible to predict how a quarry might affect the River Trent.
• Increased heavy goods vehicle traffic could lead to more accidents and cause excessive damage to roads.
• Noise pollution is pervasive, invasive and could be unbearably loud. Background noise in Lea is currently approximately 40 decibels. A typical sand and gravel quarry emits noise at 70 decibels which is the equivalent of 8 times the level at 40 decibels.
• Quarrying activities, in very close proximity to a tidal river may have unforeseen effects on flooding and hydrology.
• Dust can cause respiratory problems, eye irritation and other health issues especially for those with existing conditions.
• It’s believed that there are other sites that would yield more volume and a better grade product therefore SG01 would be a less efficient choice.
• The quality of life for villagers will be adversely affected causing decreased mental well-being.
• There would be a reduction in farming land.
• 1. Lea is a residential village containing listed buildings of historical interest, Lea Park and a crematorium all of which would be in close proximity to the quarry. Endorsing the application brings no benefit to the village community. What might the outcomes be? See Appendix H – Site Assessment Report June 24: Page 817 Sites Discounted at the Preferred Approach Stage Pages 1146 – 1187 Assessment form for mineral sites Page 1359 Appendix 7: Site Boundaries of Sites Proposed to be Discounted at Preferred Approach Stage Lincolnshire County Council has discounted site SG01 having ranked least preferred at 19th out of 19 locations. As such, Lea Marshes might not be selected for development as it appears to be contrary to current policies. Unfortunately, consideration must be given to the possibility that Lea Marshes may be selected despite robust resistance. Our objective would be to demand conditions that post-quarry, the land would be restored to nature and not transition to a brown-field site for further development. In last resort other significant benefits, including financial, commensurate with the harm done would be needed to remedy the negative ramifications. 5. Potential actions - Submission to Lincolnshire County Council. Whilst The Waste and Minerals Team are considering their final plan, a detailed evidence-based submission to the team would confirm that the village is robustly against the development. It could help steer the decision towards a more amenable location. Please see Appendix 1 Sand Gravel Background Notes as kindly provided by Russell. He offers his support in leading the drafting of a submission.
2 Other Potential Actions
• Completion of an on-line and manual petition. Template letters of objection could be distributed for individuals to complete and submit in protest. Debbie Revill offers her support in this task. • Contact potential collaborators and sources of support: Lea Crematorium, Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, Natural England, Councilors, Member of Parliament, clubs and church, Lea school and anyone with an interest in Lea.
• Visit a working quarry for first-hand experience. See Quarry List below: Name Opening Hours Distance from Lea Cemex Swinderby Quarry, Witham St Hughs, LN6 9TW Breedon, 7.00 – 17.00 Monday to Saturday Woodhall Spa Road, Tattershall Thorpe, Lincoln, LN4 4JT 19 miles 7.00 – 17.00 Monday to Friday, 7.00 – 12.00 Saturday Heidelberg Materials Aggregates Baston Quarry, Outgang Road, Langtoft, PE6 9QA 40 miles 7.00 – 17.00 Monday to Saturday Tarmac Whisby Quarry, Eagle Road, Whisby, Lincoln, LN6 9BT 59 miles 6.30 – 17.00 Monday to Thursday, 6.30 – 17.30 Friday Breedon Norton Bottoms Quarry, Brills Hill Lincoln, LN6 9JN 15 miles 7.00 – 18.00 Monday to Thursday, 7.00 – 17.00 Friday, 7.00 – 12.00 Saturday Breedon Kettleby Quarry, Brigg Road South, Kettleby, DN20 9HL 19 miles 7.00 – 17.00 Monday to Friday 27 Miles • Request to Lea Parish Council to ringfence a financial budget to support Friends of Lea Marshes.
• Alignment to Lea Neighbourhood Plan – is there anything in the plan which specifically refers to the SSSI at Lea Marshes? If not, perhaps it could be updated accordingly with reference to the proposed development at SG01. Claire Hill offers her support in researching SSSI.
• An edition of Lea Life dedicated solely to raising public awareness.
6. Date of next meetings The next Lea Parish Council meeting is planned for Monday 23rd June 2025 at 6.30 pm Butler’s Pantry where the Council will consider the formation of Friends of Lea Marshes. It is essential that the working group is supported by Lea Parish Council to give the group weight and credibility. Anyone is welcome to attend the meeting and speak at the public section. The next Friends of Lea Marshes meeting will take place on Tuesday 24th June 2025 at 7.30 pm Butler’s Pantry.