TWO villages are due to face another 20 years of quarry work as developers plan to extend the site closer to residents’ homes.

Many villagers in Kempsford and Whelford said the plans put on show to the public recently were “nothing remarkable” and that they have grown used to the quarry work in the area, which has been ongoing since 2002.

Aggregate Industries, currently operating at Manor Farm Quarry in Kempsford, plan to extend the quarry to the north and east of the current site.

Residents have voiced concerns over noise, dust, traffic and visual impact as the extended area will be closer to residential sites than before.

“It’s the way the lorry drivers behave on the roads which affects us,” said Kempsford resident Margaret Hussey. “Some of them are good but some just don’t slow down.”

Also from Kempsford Allan Morriss (CORR) said the expansion was inevitable but at least it would boost the local economy. “As far as Kempsford is concerned, the new work is further away. There will be extra lorries but they probably won’t come through our village.”

Estates manager at Aggregate Industries Rob Westall said that plans could be redesigned if the pubic were not happy. “It’s only a temporary use of land and we’ll be linking footpaths back too. At the moment there is no legal way you can walk from Kempsford to Whelford across the fields but after the restoration it will be possible.”

The industry will be restoring both quarry sites to agricultural land after work has taken place. If the land was left as a pool of water, the birds attracted to the area would affect the flight paths of the nearby RAF base.

The new site will be based close to Whelford and residents from both villagers feel Whelford will be the most affected by the quarry work.

Whelford Road resident Teresa Griffin lives just behind the field where the quarrying will take place. “I’m very concerned about it,” she said. “But until I can view the documents it is hard. The leaflet I was given doesn’t show much.

“Many residents are talking about creating a group. We’re mainly concerned about work coming into the field where the landing lights are. It’s too close.”

A planning application has yet to be submitted by Aggregate Industries and members of the public still have time to give their opinion on the new quarry site. Call 01373 451001.