Anne Main, MP for St Albans, has called on the Prime Minister to ensure that the Environment Agency does not allow the development of a new gravel quarry on the edge of the city.
Speaking in Prime Minister’s Questions, Mrs Main said the former Hatfield Aerodrome site in Smallford threatens to release a bromate plume into local water reserves.
Mrs Main MP said: “A toxic and carcinogenic bromate plume is threatening my constituency. There are plans to drill a new gravel quarry in Smallford, which may disturb the plume and cause it to enter the watercourses.
“Will the Prime Minister use his good offices to ensure that the Environment Agency does not allow quarrying on this gravel pit until the toxicity of the bromate plume has been fully assessed?”
The Prime Minister assured Anne that he would “get on immediately to the Environment Secretary and ensure that she takes it up”.
Early next month, Mrs Main MP will be meeting with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to request a thorough investigation into the bromate plume has been carried out.
The application to transform the former Hatfield Aerodrome site into a quarry is being considered by the Hertfordshire County Council’s (HCC) Development Control Committee.
If the plan were to go ahead, it would lead to the extraction of eight million tonnes of sand and gravel and potentially disturb the bromate plume located below ground at the site.
On Friday, October 18, Mrs Main MP visited the site with concerned residents who have recently lodged a formal objection to the planning application in response to the Council’s release of documents relating to the second consultation.
In response to conclusions made during the second consultation, Mrs Main said: “The council have released a misleading report which concludes that the carcinogenic compound bromate has not been detected at the site.
“However, if one looks at the accompanying bromate data sheet provided by the council and the rate is in fact 0.2273 mg per litre which means that the bromate levels are exceeding World Health Organisation recommendations.”
During the visit, residents told Anne that as a matter of priority the Environment Agency must review the recent information supplied to them which shows that pollution is on the dig site and is a major risk to the source water.
“I believe it is imperative that a thorough scientific review is undertaken of the site before any decisions are made. I will continue to closely monitor the situation and pressure the Government to take all possible measures to stop this quarry going ahead,” added Mrs Main MP.
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