Digging millions of tons of gravel from a site within the Oxford Green Belt would be "visual and environmental vandalism" - city council leader John Goddard said.
A 50-acre site between Grandpont and the Hinksey villages has been earmarked as a possible gravel pit, that could provide one and a half million tons of sand and gravel.
It is the only site within the city on a list of 60 potential sites for sand and gravel extraction drawn up by Oxfordshire County Council on Government orders. County Hall insists not all of the sites will be needed - but city councillors have moved quickly to issue a hands-off warning.
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A report by city council officers said that any gravel extraction at the site, which lies within the Green Belt, would damage the local environment including Hinksey Park and Hinksey Stream.
They also raised concerns about the levels of noise and dust that would be endured by neighbouring homes. Mr Goddard said: "If it went ahead it would be an act of environmental and visual vandalism."
"It is an environmentally sensitive site and it is unlikely that remediation could ever return it to its former state. It would be a really bad idea."
The county council must plan for the extraction of 29m tonnes of sand and gravel extraction until 2026 and has drawn up a list of 60 possible sites.
In addition, 140 sites have been identified for possible extraction of 6.8m tonnes of crushed rock. Peter Day, county council minerals and waste policy team leader, said: "We are required to do this under national legislation and Government policy.
"We are still in the early stages of the plan preparation process. The next stage will be to assess all the site options in the light of the comments we have received and draw up a shortlist of preferred options for a further round of public consultation.
"But we do not yet know when this will be done as we have not yet agreed a revised timetable with the Government Office of the South East.
"Subsequently we will produce a full version of the plan for a final round of public consultation and submission to the Secretary of State for independent examination, with public hearings, by a Planning Inspector."
In 2005, the Grandpont site was the subject of an ambitious £15m plan to create a giant rowing and water sport lake. Developers wanted to develop the facility after gravel and sand had been dug out.
I am extremly concerned about this proposal - botley is already lacking in green open spaces and Botley is still one of the few places that is a pleasant area to live. Why oh why - do we never ever learn????? This pit would have such huge ramifications on this area, leave it out Government - stop the pit now!
I am extremly concerned about this proposal - botley is already lacking in green open spaces and Botley is still one of the few places that is a pleasant area to live. Why oh why - do we never ever learn????? This pit would have such huge ramifications on this area, leave it out Government - stop the pit now!
Be careful if they do this as there will be a big hole in the ground, and guess what, the council will give NPower permission to fill it with ash and other toxic goodies from Didcot Power Station. just like they are about to ruin Radley lakes. You have been warned.
Be careful if they do this as there will be a big hole in the ground, and guess what, the council will give NPower permission to fill it with ash and other toxic goodies from Didcot Power Station. just like they are about to ruin Radley lakes. You have been warned.
The Minerals Officer at Oxfordshire County Council regards Gravel Pits as fair game for waste disposal. There is a mountain of PFA which could be recycled into usable material to make concrete but no one in NPower has sufficient vision and no one in the County Council has the courage to make the connection.
When Gordon Brown's millions of homes in the South East and the Olympic Village are finally built, the countryside will be scarred with huge holes from which aggregate has been extracted for their construction. The holes will then be filled with Didcot's ash - why despoil the countryside - cut out the Gravel Barons and go straight for the recycling option. Flashbrix and Rocktron are just two to mention.
The Minerals Officer at Oxfordshire County Council regards Gravel Pits as fair game for waste disposal. There is a mountain of PFA which could be recycled into usable material to make concrete but no one in NPower has sufficient vision and no one in the County Council has the courage to make the connection.
When Gordon Brown's millions of homes in the South East and the Olympic Village are finally built, the countryside will be scarred with huge holes from which aggregate has been extracted for their construction. The holes will then be filled with Didcot's ash - why despoil the countryside - cut out the Gravel Barons and go straight for the recycling option. Flashbrix and Rocktron are just two to mention.
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