bed breakfast torquay, hotel, accommodation, b&b, torquay, devon, english riviera, hudson, harbour, non smoking, rooms, bed breakfast torquay, eden project, wind surfing, diving, fishing, bed breakfast torquay

The National Park Authority has appreciated the many detailed discussions with the clay companies and Devon County Council, particularly over the last two and a half years. The responsible position adopted by the two companies with regard to those areas of beautiful and historic landscapes directly affected is warmly applauded. These areas, on south west Dartmoor, are also of significant archaeological, ecological and amenity value. The Authority is looking forward to working with the companies and Devon County Council to begin the process of legally revoking the mineral permissions.

The following provides useful background on the china clay workings on south west Dartmoor.

The records show that china clay has been worked on south west Dartmoor since about 1830 and the settlements of Lee Moor and Wotter owe their existence to clay working. The current planning permissions date originally from 1951, although amendments and additions were made in the 1960s and 1970s. A public inquiry in 1971 resulted in planning permission being granted for the extension of the quarry and waste disposal sites and the closure of the public highway between Tolchmoor Gate and Cadover Bridge. It was during that public inquiry that areas X, Y and Z were first labelled as such.

Area Y is that part of Shaugh Moor that has planning permission for the disposal of waste, but is currently unused. It contains one of the richest collection of archaeological remains on Dartmoor and is an essential part of the wider archaeological landscape of the National Park. It is common land, with public rights of access over it, on foot and on horseback.

The qualities of this area have been recognised for many years and in 1978 an agreement was concluded with both clay companies in respect of joint tipping arrangements. This enabled Watts Blake Bearne to give an informal commitment not to tip on area Y before 2008, unless company policy dictated otherwise (in which case four years notice would have been given) or safe operations became impossible without the use of additional tipping areas (in which case no notice would have been given). At the inquiry in respect of changes to the National Park boundary, in 1993, the company restated this commitment.

Area X extends from Cadover Bridge along the River Plym and into the Blackabrook valley. At the National Park boundary inquiry (see below) Watts Blake Bearne stated that it would wish to start work in this area within 10 years but has not done so. Through an Agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 it previously relinquished its permission in respect of the heavily used recreational area along the River Plym, from Cadover Bridge to the Blackabrook. p Area Z is owned by Imerys Minerals Ltd (formerly ECC International) and is also part of the Blackabrook valley. At the boundary inquiry, the company stated that, by extending its Whitehill Yeo Pit, it would move into this area within five years (again it has not done so). Extending the clay pits into areas X and Z, over the watershed and into the Blackabrook catchment, would have extended the visual impact of the china clay operation over a much wider area when viewed from the open moorland to the north and west.