The Inquiry will proceed like a trial with WBB stating their case first, then Teignbridge District Council (in favour of the development), then Devon Wildlife Trust(DWT), Teigngrace Parish Council with AQUA, and the Environment Agency (all against).
Today all parties summarised their positions. Richard Drabble, WBB's QC claimed "The continuing health of the UK, European and world economies depends on a supply of raw materials... To deny industry a critical raw material will carry with it a social and human cost". WBB have admitted that no new jobs will be created by the development. Robert McCracken, DWT's Barrister contended the proposal was bringing Third World economics to Devon, with raw materials being exported at low prices. He said, "The vast majority of added value is in foreign countries [a Belgian company owns a large share of WBB] but Devon will have all the environmental damage". Peter Roderick, barrister for Teigngrace Parish Council with AQUA, said "This Inquiry is not about need, it is about greed", summing up with "These wretched, bulldozing Belgians have had their own way too often in the past. They have destroyed too much of the Bovey Basin over the last decades. Enough is enough".
The Inquiry will be held Tuesday-Friday 10am-4:45pm, and will last around 8 weeks. The outcome could set a precedent for other similar Inquiries across Britain.
Villagers and Protestors greeted the news as 'absolutely fabulous'. It is reported that the protestors will now leave the site and remove all their dwellings and materials within two weeks.
On arrival in London, they will present Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, with a letter asking him to call the scheme in for a public inquiry.
The 180mile, 12 day walk will arrive in London on Thursday 9 October.
Protesters receive final notice to leave the occupied land or face eviction. Lots of police activity noted around site.
Protesters visit WBB's headquarters to present them with a "Golden Toilet" award, but fail to gain entry.
WBB decide to dig trenches in front of all gates leading to the protest sites to stop anymore protest vehicles moving onto the land. Police are called but are powerless to stop them. The trenches are dug, but are later filled in by a dog.
Protester spokesman Fred said "Our main concern is safety - if there was an accident it would be impossible for the emergency services to get here quick enough".
Court in Torquay, as WBB's application for a possession order on land occupied by protesters comes before the judge. The possession order is granted. Protesters plan to appeal.
A rally is held in Newton Abbot to call for a public inquiry.
WBB apply for a possession order on land occupied by protesters. Notices are served on all 4 camps. The court date will be the Friday 29 August.
John Prescott puts a hold notice on plans while he decides whether to call in the proposals for investigation.
The council votes again on the proposed quarry extension, following the submissions of a motion by councillor Phil Cook. The original vote went 12-3 (3 abstentions) in favour of the quarry extension. Today's vote (11-7 in favour, no abstentions) shows an increase of 4 votes against the proposal. The battle starts here!
650 people gather in Teigngrace to protest against the proposed river diversions and quarry extension by walking around the area that will be affected.
Protesters plan to prosecute WBB over an alleged breach of the badgers act. Protesters have found five badgers setts on land WBB want to quarry. One protester said "Either WBB knew these setts were here and have therefore been breaking the law, or they didn't do their environmental impact assessment very thoroughly".
At 4 a.m. this morning, approximately 30 protesters moved onto the site of the ball clay quarry workings of Watts-Blake-Bearne. The proposal, which was passed by the County Council on the 11th of June 1997, involves moving a kilometre stretch of the river Teign and a short stretch of the river Bovey in order to extract ball clay, the raw material for toilets. There is also a proposal for a 50 metre high waste tip.
For further details see the AQUA Press Statements
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