Health Concerns

These are our concerns how the quarry can affect our health - now and potentially long term.

Read this Peer reviewed research in the effect of quarry sites on health.

Dave Langton for Stop The Quarry Campaign, Land at Lea Castle Farm, Wolverley Road, Broadwaters, Kidderminster, Worcestershire click here

Life without a quarry

We enjoy the CLEAN AIR. It is so different from the centre of Leeds and Wakefield, or Castleford with all the vehicles spewing out their fumes and gases. Towns and cities are desperate to improve their air quality. Many cities are controlling which vehicles can travel in their area, or they have to pay for the right to do so.

Life with a quarry

Air quality will change in Methley. We all understand how dust travels due to wind and thermals. We are aware of sand and silica coming from the Saraha and being deposited throughout Europe and the UK. Locally, many people have seen the sandy dust on their cars and in their gardens. The quarry is so much closer and therefore there is more likelyhood of us experiencing dust and sand in Methley. For those with breathing problems how much will their health be affected.

Life without a quarry

When you go for a peaceful walk around the village or through the fields you celebrate all the NATURE and WILDLIFE you see. You have seen many things such as newts and frogs, bats and owls, you have been told there may be badgers around. We live in a countryside environment.

Life with a quarry

You may be limited where you can walk. This could be due to physical restrictions of areas where walking is prohibited. You may not wish to walk where there is a lot of dust and noise. Wildlife may decide to move away from the quarry area as it is dangerous, noisy and dusty. The flight path of birds can be disrupted and they no longer fly overhead to their feeding and roosting grounds.

Life without a quarry

You have no fear crossing the local ROADS as most drivers keep to the speed limit and watch out for children who feel safe in Methley.

Life with a quarry

Roads are busier, both with cars and heavy lorries. It can take much longer to exit Methley on to the A639. You have to wait your turn in a line of trucks spewing out noxious diesel fumes.

Life without a quarry

It is QUIET in Methley. Sometimes you may hear the occasional heavy vehicle as it travels on the busy A639 road. Local traffic noise is low and doesn’t bother you.

We have the sounds of children playing outside in the summer and on nice days. We hear the birds as they fly to their feeding and roosting places.

Life with a quarry

People who currently live close to a quarry complain there is a constant hum of machinery always in the background.

Work is planned start at 7.00am. What time will heavy lorries arrive and be waiting for the quarry to open? Drivers will be trying to earn as much money as possible by fitting in as many loads as they can each day. The quarry plans close at 7.30pm weekdays. There will be no peace at the weekend either as they plan to work on Saturday mornings 7 am—1 pm.

The ENVIRONMENT concerns us all. Methley can experience flooding with 2 major rivers close by the village. St Aiden’s Nature Park was created after the river banks collapsed causing extensive flooding. We cannot risk flooding again.

The Quarry proposals may not give sufficient importance to alleviating the risk of increased flooding in Methley. In addition, it is essential the safeguards are in place to ensure that the rivers are not polluted by quarrying work.