VIDEO: Trees saved for now in Devon town as quarry campaigners remain wary

Trees forming a natural ‘green buffer’ between residents of a Devon town and a large mineral quarry have been given official protection.

However, campaigners fighting to save them have been warned that they are still at risk.

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Devon County Council gave multinational mining company Sibelco permission to extract ball clay at Kingsteignton in 1999, and that permission is still in place.

The Tree Preservation Order (TPO) now placed on the woodland by Teignbridge Council’s planning committee means any tree removal must be justified, proportionate and in line with wider planning and environmental objectives.

It aims to “prevent avoidable or premature woodland clearance that would result in a significant and irreversible loss of public amenity”. 

The woodland in question is the equivalent of about 60 football pitches.

However, Cllr Phil Bullivant (Con, Bradley) reminded planning committee members:

“National legislation means this will eventually go back to being a quarry. That consent has already been given.

“We are proposing appropriate steps to provide as much protection as possible, but people think this is the first step towards stopping the redevelopment of the quarry, and I don’t believe we have the power to do that.”

Sibelco is one of the largest employers in the Newton Abbot area, and the Zitherixon quarry at Rackerhayes holds one of the world’s most important deposits of ball clay, which is used in the manufacture of toilets, basins and tiles.

Clay mining contributes millions of pounds each year to the economy of the Newton Abbot area, but campaigners in Kingsteignton say removing the trees and returning Zitherixon to mining use would be unacceptable.

Along with the loss of the woodland, they say quarry operations would create hazards for the local community, including heavy traffic and dust.

The woodland has self-seeded since the quarry was last used more than 130 years ago and includes tree species such as ash, beech, sycamore, birch, hazel and oak.

Teignbridge Council received 170 messages of support for the TPO and just two objections, one from Sibelco and one from a local fishing club that uses the old quarries and says a TPO would prevent it from maintaining trees for safety reasons.

The local Save Our Trees group says the woodland is “priceless” and must be preserved.

The planning committee heard that the TPO will not prevent lawful mineral extraction or emergency safety work.

Cllr David Palethorpe (Lib Dem, Ipplepen) said:

“We are extremely fortunate to have such a self-seeded woodland. To see nature take its own course over a century is something we should preserve.

“It is important that we do this for the people of Kingsteignton, Newton Abbot and the wider district.”

Cllr Janet Bradford (Ind, College) added: “We really must protect this for the community.”

Members voted unanimously that a temporary TPO introduced last August, and due to expire next month, should be continued.