Proposed gravel extraction at Eynsham by Hansons

Hanson Aggregates (now part of Heidelberg Cement) have resubmitted their Planning Application to Oxfordshire County Council to extract 1.97 million tonnes of gravel from the fields south of Cassington Road between Mead Lane and the parish boundary with Cassington and extending south to cross the line of the old railway and near to Siemens Magnet Factory. They intend to do this working through the fields in sections in a clockwise direction. Close to the factory wet digging is planned. Minerals will then be transported by an electrically driven conveyor belt along the line of the old railway and under the bridge on the A40 to the present processing plant at Yarnton. They no longer intend to bring in any inert infill, but instead propose to leave the exhausted pits as lakes.

This development is intended to be just the start of a continuing programme to dig the whole area north and south of Cassington Road from Mead Lane up to the Evenlode and from the A40 to the former railway line and beyond, with possibly a progression towards Wytham and north of the A40 towards Bladon and Long Hanborough.

This application is still unresolved as of 24^th May 2011.