MORE than 550 objections have been lodged with the county council over the building of a quarry which will cover an area the size of 165 football pitches.

Fullamoor quarry, near Clifton Hampden, has caused widespread concern among neighbouring villages as over the next 10 years the plan for the site will be to excavate 2.5million tonnes of sand and gravel.

Spokesman for Bachport - an 800-strong campaign group - Giles Baxter said: "We don’t know when Hills will lodge an application but it could be soon and we must be ready.

"Everyone who objected to the first plan must object again and we will need even more support.

"Residents, politicians, councillors and businesses must be re-energised if we are to win this battle.

"If approved it would devastate a tranquil area of rural Oxfordshire for years to come and it would bring misery to thousands of people not only for local residents but people who pass through the area and tourists."

But although villagers in Burcot, Long Wittenham, Appleford and Culham are worried about the impact of 104-hectare quarry, Hills Quarry Products has argued the need for such a large site.

Monique Hayes, a spokeswoman for the company, said that the majority of quarry products are used in the construction industry and places like Fullamoor quarry will support the modern lifestyle we have become accustomed to.

She said: "They are also used in iron and steel manufacture, glass making, agriculture, cleaning of power station emissions and pharmaceuticals."

A typical UK family creates a need for about a lorry load of stone every year as ground chalk is added to bread to give us calcium, used for pills with a small quantity of drug absorbed onto a 'carrier', limestone creates the abrasive in toothpaste and clay is used in face creams.

Ms Hayes added: "Quarries are important rural employers providing a range of job opportunities.

"Fullamoor quarry will provide up to 15 new jobs for local people plus further work for other associated businesses.

"It is a temporary rather than permanent use of the land and the phased operations mean only part of the site is worked at any one time and progressive restoration ‘returns’ the land back to its original condition or better."

The location for any quarry is based on geology and Hills' proposal for Fullamoor reflects the rich source of sand and gravel deposits that the area surrounding the River Thames holds.

Ms Hayes added: "Another significant factor is the mineral planning system.

"Current figures show that there has been a significant decline in planning permissions granted for new reserves of sand and gravel over the last 15 years.

"For every 100 tonnes of sand and gravel being used, only 56 tonnes is being replaced through new planning permissions.

"To provide construction materials in a sustainable way, quarries need to be carefully planned close to where new building will take place."

Planned growth in South Oxfordshire will see many new housing and infrastructure projects which require the construction materials that Fullamoor quarry could provide.

On average, each new home requires 60 tonnes of aggregates in its construction.

It is expected that the company will lodge an application with Oxfordshire County Council early next year.