It's really disappointing to hear that Brett Aggregates are expected to submit a proposal to dig gravel from Manor Farm in Laleham, so soon after they withdrew an application last May in the face of huge local opposition.
At the time, campaigners did an exceptional job in getting together and making their voices heard, and Borough councillors were supportive. That was great to see and, in many ways, reflected localism at its best.
It looks like the same kind of joint effort will be needed once more, which obviously is a little disheartening. Still, the success of the last campaign shows that there's no reason why development can't be halted.
I've already spoken to residents about these issues, and it's certainly encouraging to see that people are taking the initiative and mobilizing already.
As Member of Parliament, my job is different to that of a councillor. They are at the centre of the decision making process when it comes to planning across the UK. That's a good thing because development is often a sensitive issue that can be best understood and tackled at a local level, but also explains why it wouldn't be right for me to weigh in on every planning issue.
Nevertheless, and bearing in mind that the specific details of Brett's new plans are still unclear, I certainly wish to confirm that I am still very much opposed to gravel extraction at Manor Farm. Further development in this area could be detrimental to so many people and my responsibility is first and foremost to the residents of Spelthorne. I'll therefore be doing all that I can to offer my support.
Kwasi has authored one book,
