If the outside world does not perceive the efforts made by the quarrying industry to improve biodiversity and use resources sustainably - is that the industry's fault or down to preconceptions in society? Whatever the answer, the problem will not be resolved without the aggregates sector being proactive and actively engaging with stakeholders, policy makers and local communities
If the outside world does not perceive the efforts made by the quarrying industry to improve biodiversity and use resources sustainably – is that the industry’s fault or down to preconceptions in society? Whatever the answer, the problem will not be resolved without the aggregates sector being proactive and actively engaging with stakeholders, policy makers and local communities
For this reason, news of an initiative by the Scotland branch of the UK’s Mineral Products Association seemed to me like a very good step in the right direction. Under the scheme MPA members in the region were organising training days for planning authority staff in a bid to increase understanding of the quarrying sector
The arrangement came about after the MPA and the Scottish Government agreed that the lack of minerals knowledge in the planning profession could be overcome by the industry taking action to address the problem. The response to the initiative was good – some of the events were oversubscribed within days of their announcement
But it wasn’t a just a lecture session, the MPA worked with its members to try and make this a two-way process so everyone could learn from it. In addition to looking at the legislative and policy context to minerals planning in Scotland, various operational issues from markets to after-use were also considered, as were effective development plan policies, conditions and legal agreements
Could this kind of initiative be repeated elsewhere in Europe? This kind of two-way discussion is something that could really help to build relations and improve understanding
The recent European Minerals Day certainly made an impact with local communities with over 180 quarries open over a weekend in May in 21 countries in Europe, plus other sites were opened in 11 other countries worldwide as part of the initiative. Full figures for the visitor numbers are not yet available but feedback from the quarries seems to be that the event was well-attended
The willingness of the public to go and visit a quarry open day and the high demand for Scotland’s planning open days suggests that there is a thirst for greater knowledge and understanding about the aggregates market. So are we doing enough to satisfy this demand? My answer is no. I wanted to be able to take my family along to an event and introduce them to the industry that I write about, but in the UK there were just four sites open – the closest was over a two hour drive away. I know it takes time, effort and some funding to put on an open day but surely the major producers in the UK could have made more effort? I don’t think the UK was alone in the lack of commitment in the industry to the initiative
Yes, I understand that the economy is still difficult, however, investment in community involvement to improve public perception will not happen overnight. If efforts already made are not sustained then there is a real risk that any headway that was made up until the recession will be lost
The industry could end up paying for this lack of commitment when it comes to applying for extensions and consent for new sites when the public will not necessarily be on the side of the quarry producer
