South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa has hailed the ‘good progress’ made in addressing local concerns over the activities taking place at two former quarry sites in the village of Sapcote.
This follows two recent multi-agency meetings organised by Alberto and attended by senior representatives from the Environment Agency, Blaby District Council and Leicestershire County Council to discuss local concerns over the alleged draining of water and unauthorised dumping of materials at the Granitethorpe and Sapcote quarries in the village.
Following the first meeting in April, officers from the Environment Agency visited Sapcote Quarry and issued a formal warning letter to the landowner following their discovery that the rate of water being drained was above the legal limit.
A meter has now been fitted at the quarry site to monitor the water abstraction and further tests carried out by the Environment Agency have also revealed that the quarry waters, thought to be hydrostatically linked to nearby Stoney Cove, are not polluted.
Alberto said, “I am very pleased with the good progress being made by a number of agencies in addressing local concerns about these two quarries, and their associated activities, in Sapcote. This has long been a matter of deep worry for my constituents; however, I do hope they will be reassured by the outcomes and subsequent actions following these meetings which has resulted in firm action being taken by the Environment Agency”.
Blaby District and Leicestershire County Councillor for Sapcote, Cllr Maggie Wright added, “These meetings have been very helpful in bringing about positive outcomes and providing a greater degree of transparency and clearer communication for local residents who I know are very concerned about the activities taking place at these quarry sites. It is very good to know that there are no pollutants or contaminants in the waters there and I welcome the ongoing scrutiny and discussion of these sites”.
Alberto concluded, “Both Granitethorpe and Sapcote quarries are natural, picturesque sites that are crucial to the local ecosystem hence why it is so important that we do all we can to protect them. I am immensely grateful to the Environment Agency who have acted swiftly and firmly in this case, and I should like to reassure constituents that my office will continue working closely with the responsible agencies to ensure that activities at these sites are closely monitoring moving forward”.
