Sir – Apart from praising councillor Keith Mitchell (Report, April 5) Oxfordshire County Council agreed last week to excavate over a million tonnes of sand and gravel every year from the Oxfordshire countryside. This is more than twice as much sand and gravel as was taken from our rural areas last year. Yet the building industry is increasingly using recycled materials. The Tory-run county council will allow new gravel pits between Cholsey and Wallingford bang in the middle of two areas of outstanding natural beauty.
More gravel extraction will also be allowed in the Lower Windrush Valley and around Eynsham.
This plan to despoil the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside is deeply flawed.
Three leading Conservatives, including chairman, councillor Patrick Greene and cabinet member, councillor Louise Chapman, voted with Labour against the plan.
Labour will continue to support the view of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) that 700,000 tonnes is more than enough sand and gravel extraction.
John Tanner (Labour), Board member for a cleaner, greener Oxford
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