MORE than 100 people took part in a protest against plans by one of Oxford’s wealthiest colleges to open a huge quarry on its land.

Campaigners from Barford, in south Warwickshire, said that a proposed 220-acre quarry similar in size to the village will expose them to “toxic fine particulate silica dust”, which could cause “permanent damage” to their lungs.

They are also concerned the quarry, roughly the size of 110 football pitches, will “destroy high-quality agricultural land and scar the landscape”.

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The proposed land at Wasperton Farm is owned by St John’s College, and for the past seven years, people in Barford have campaigned against Warwickshire County Council’s Minerals Plan, which could see the sand and gravel quarry open on the edge of the village.

On Saturday (November 12) the campaigners and their MP Matt Western protested outside the college in St Giles, in a bid to stop the plans.

Oxford Mail:

They held banners reading ‘save our lungs’ and ‘St John’s College, time for a U turn, not a U bend’. They also handed out leaflets and spoke to students about their concerns.

The group argued that the college is risking damaging villagers’ lives but also their own reputation, by directly contradicting their ethos of “environmental sustainability”.

Malcolm Eykyn, one of the members of the group against the quarry, said: “Our protest went well, and the students were gravely concerned and angry to hear what their college is doing.

“We believe the college doesn’t really understand the implications of what they are about to do. By going ahead with this 15-year mining process, toxic silica dust and diesel fume particulates from up to 400 HGV movements per day will become airborne for residents to inhale, exposing them to risk of permanent ill health.

“The carbon footprint of this activity combined with that of the mining extraction machinery will adversely contribute to greenhouse gas emissions into our atmosphere. Barford is already registered as an atmospherically highly polluted village locality.

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“We hope that the policy makers at St John’s College will share our concern and withdraw their consent for this to go ahead, which is in their gift to do. They are one of the wealthiest colleges in the country and their only incentive is a comparatively small financial gain.

“Do they really want to risk their reputation and our health by proceeding?”

Mr Western said: “It was great to see so many at the protest continuing this campaign. We are still fighting to protect the quality of life and our future in Barford and I’m proud to associate myself with this campaign.

“I genuinely believe we can win. There is no need for this quarry, it’s in the wrong place. St John’s can cancel the contract and other sites can be used.”

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This story was written by Anna Colivicchi, she joined the team this year and covers health stories for the Oxfordshire papers. 

Get in touch with her by emailing: Anna.colivicchi@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @AnnaColivicchi