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Our application is to extend our existing sand pit in to part of field 5767 to extract from below the water value in parts of fields 3844 and 4653, infilling the resulting wet area to our current working level with waste generated on site and other inert non-teachable forming materials.
Balfaharra is located in the parish of German on the north side of the A1 between St. Johns and Peel, approximately 1 mile from St. Johns. The location plan BP refers.
We have been continuously extracting sand and gravel from this site at Balfaharra for the last thirty years, and in addition two manufacturing plants are located within field 3844. Planning details as follows:
The extracted material at Balfaharra is predominantly a medium grade clean sand, which contains pockets of clay and gravel.
Tear boxes have shown that the material found in field 5767 has the name charocterodios. Below the water table the material in fields 3844 and 4653 is also similar but with a higher distribution of gravel.
The soft medium grade sand is the most widely used sand on the island for blighting, and has many other uses including paver bedding, ready mixed mortar, soxied, top dressing and to a lesser extent rendering in addition the raw material is used on site as a constituent of calcium silicate bricks and concrete products.
No known sites of archaeological interest will be affected by our proposals. In the early 1970s a threshold loiter grave was unearthed by our operations in field 3844. Every assistance was given to the Mare Museum with their extension of the site.
There have been no finds to date in field 4653.
All the land infected by this application is owned by ourselves. Parts of Balfaharra are leased to agricultural use for periods of less than one year.
Cordell Building Materials Limited, Incorporated in the Isle of Man No. 1646 Gentle 6 A Street, A C Street, A 6 F Reg No. 000 001 00
No additional or different access to the sandpit will be required with access to the extension being through the existing area.
There will be no increase in noise levels.
The sandpit is generally well screened from the surrounding area. From the Peel to St Johns road the workings are visible only through the entrance gate. Although the upper part of the working face is visible from the Patrick to St Johns road, the highest point of field 4653 has been passed so the face will become less visible as we work towards the dip in field 3767. Accordingly, the visual impact will be no more noticeable than at present, and should in fact improve as excavation progresses.
No existing embankment or screening will be removed or altered by the proposed extension.
No alteration to existing arrangements is required. Unusable material (such as clay) is retained on site, silt from the washing process is separated in a settlement lagoon and the water returned to the river Neb. The water filters naturally from the lagoon, so there is no pollution or discolouration of the river. No extra burden will be placed upon the settlement lagoon by our proposals.
The existing workings provide a nesting area for sand martins. The Ringing Group of the Manx Ornithological Society regularly monitors the health of the colony, ringing both adults and juveniles. This year they estimate that there are about 150 breeding pairs on site. The sand martins nest in a different part of the workings each year, and we anticipate that our proposals will not adversely affect them. Sand martins did not nest in the area prior to the opening of the sandpit.
Excavation below the water table will make best use of the valuable mineral resource whilst at the same time regulating the rate of horizontal expansion of the sandpit. It will not be possible to extract sufficient material from below water to meet our requirements. We therefore intend to work the two extraction areas in tandem making maximum use of the wet extraction and using the extension to balance output.
We have twelve months of reserves within the area of existing planning consent. The proposed extension into field 3767 will extend the life of the sandpit by approximately fourteen years. Excavation below the water in existing areas will further extend that by two years. Should approval be granted, we anticipate commencing extraction below the water table immediately, whilst existing areas are exhausted before extending into field 3767.
Drawing SP1 refers. The area of extension is highlighted with an orange boundary. A progressive working plan is envisaged beginning at the southwest boundary of the field. We intend excavating area A in the direction of the arrow along a face width of approximately 70 metres to the boundary. Excavation will then proceed in area B, again in the direction indicated. Phasing the extension in this manner will enable the exposed area to be contained to a practical minimum, and afford opportunity for restoration of the southwest boundary at the earliest.
Drawing SP1 refers. The area is indicated by red hatching. The area will be excavated in blocks numerically as shown. This will ensure constant access from the working area to the processing plant. Tests indicate that it will be possible to extract material to a maximum depth of 3 metres below the water table. Maintaining dry workings by pumping will not be a practical proposition, so the area will be worked wet using an excavator.
Drawing SP2 refers.
No excavation has taken place against the west boundary of field 3944 and the south east side of field 4653 for fifteen years and ten years respectively, and we therefore consider that these slopes give a true indication of the stability of the ground, from which accurate conclusions may be drawn regarding angles of repose and suitable batters.
Examination of these slopes shows that the natural angle of repose is between 40° and 50° with minimal concussion, in addition to which the top 1.5 metres approx. remains vertical. These slopes have naturally reseeded with gorse and other wild flowers which further improves stability.
A batter of no less than 6 metres has been left at the west boundary of field 3944. This has suffered no deterioration during the fifteen year period.
We therefore propose at the boundaries to ensure that a minimum batter of 6 metres remains and that slopes return to their natural angle of repose. In addition, we will remove the vertical part of each slope to give a gradual transition from batter to slope.
We have conducted on site tests to establish the stability of the sand beneath the water table. These tests indicate that the sand has a natural slump angle of 15° below water, and that it is possible to excavate to the desired maximum depth 15 metres from the base of an existing slope without disturbing the integrity of that slope.
It is not desirable to have an open water area within the sandpit, and we therefore seek approval to infill the area where excavation has taken place below the water table with waste generated on site and other inert non-leachate forming materials, such as building rubble, demolished brickwork etc. We anticipate balancing the rate of extraction with the rate of infill as far as possible to keep the open water area to a minimum at all times. The area will be restored to that of our existing working level - approximately 4 metres above the water table.
Whilst it must be noted that we may at some time wish to apply to further extend our manufacturing processes to site, it is our general intention that as much of the area as possible should be progressively returned to the present plant. Slopes will be allowed to reseed naturally as they already do with a variety of wild flowers, and gorse.
Sketches SP3 and SP4 give a general impression of the area.
In preparing this application we have consulted the Department of Trade and Industry, and their consultants Messrs Wardell Armstrong.
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