Government backs up Tory county on gravel pits

4.25.00pm GMT Fri 15th Feb 2008

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne said he was disappointed today that the Government had not allowed more time for Hamble peninsula residents to react to the proposals for major gravel pits in the area.

Downing Street today released a comment on the e-petition to the Prime Minister calling for a longer consultation, saying that the country has no discretion to extend the consultation period but there would be another chance when the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government considers the plan.

"This is no consolation to local residents in Hamble, Butlock's Heath, Bursledon, Netley Abbey and Old Netley who are seeing the Tory-controlled county ram through a highly unpopular plan when there are far more appropriate sites elsewhere in the county" said Mr Huhne.

"We will keep up the fight against the Conservative plan to dig gravel pits in an area where traffic is already crawling along, where local residents deserve some peace of mind from non-stop industrial activity."