Dorset councils are inviting your comments on the future strategy for quarrying of sand and gravel, ball clay, building stone and other minerals.

The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Minerals Core Strategy aims to ensure that we secure adequate and steady supplies of minerals efficiently and in environmentally acceptable ways to meet our needs.

Between 15 July and 9 September we will be consulting on the strategy for minerals extraction in Dorset. This document is not site specific but will include areas of search for ball clay, resource areas for sand and gravel and Purbeck stone and areas of opportunity for mining Portland stone. The document also contains a set of development management policies and the criteria proposed to be used for future site selection.

A series of road shows will take place in September at locations close to where mineral resources exist. People can find out about the strategy for future quarrying and how it affects where they live.

We would also like feedback from local communities on the criteria that have been developed for selecting specific sites. Currently issues covered include impacts on environmental designations, archaeology, economic development, settlements and traffic. People are asked what they think are the most important issues that should be considered.

In addition we would like to raise awareness of the Minerals Core Strategy, which is the document that sets out the objectives and policies for mineral extraction going forward.

We will be out and about in the following locations and we look forward to seeing you there.

Christchurch Market Monday 12 Sept 8.30am – 4pm
Dorchester Market Wednesday 14 Sept 8.30am – 1pm
Swanage Co-op Thursday 15 September 9am – 1pm
Wimborne Market Friday 16 September 8.30am – 1pm
Portland Tesco Monday 19 September 9am – 1pm
Ferndown Sainsbury’s Tuesday 20 Sept - 9am - 1pm
Wareham Sainsbury Thursday 22 September 9am – 1pm

For further information go to www.dorsetforyou.com/mcs or call (01305)
228585/228571