A PUBLIC inquiry will decide whether 1.55m tonnes of sand and gravel can be extracted from an Oxfordshire farm.

Oxfordshire county councillors went against the advice of their own officers in November last year to refuse planning permission for the 146-acre site at Stonehenge Farm, Northmoor, near Standlake.

But Hanson Aggregate has appealed, and an inquiry is set to be heard at Northmoor Village Hall.

The hearing, which is open to the public, starts on Tuesday, November 17, at 10am and is expected to last for three or four days.

Hanson’s original application was turned down after villagers from Northmoor, Moreton and Bablockhythe, backed by Witney MP David Cameron, raised fears that it could increase the risk of flooding for neighbouring properties.

Hanson spokesman David Weeks said: “We were very disappointed that the application was turned down.

“We thought the reasons for refusal wouldn’t stand up at appeal – and we are very confident of an inspector overturning the refusal.

“If and when that happens, we will then need to reassure people that the operation will have very little effect on the environment or our neighbours. It’s a very small-scale operation.”

Campaign group Oxfordshire Upper Thames Residents Against Gravel Extraction (Outrage) will speak against the plans at the inquiry.

Group chairman Julie Hankey, who lives in Northmoor, said: “The lower Windrush valley has been dug almost to destruction from south of Witney down to the Thames.

“There is one bit that has not been dug, and this is the bit that they want to put a big extraction site in.

“It is a quiet rural spot and the plans would just destroy it. It will change the character of the whole area.”

She urged residents to attend the public inquiry, saying: “It would give an idea of how strongly local people feel about this.

“The more people that come along the better.”

Mrs Hankey’s husband Peri said: “We have come a long way since Hanson first told us of their intention to apply for permission to dig up Stonehenge Farm. So far we have managed to keep them at bay.

“The public inquiry on November 17 and the following days will be the final test, and we aim to give it our all.”

witney@oxfordmail.co.uk