I REFER to your report on the proposed reopening of the quarry on Venn Ottery Hill, Campaigners' fury over go-ahead for quarry plan, September 1.

Devon County Council's principal argument is that planning permission was granted to Aggregate Industries in the 1960s and that nothing has changed since. If you or I are granted planning permission and we do not carry out the work intended we must reapply every three years and local residents have the opportunity to express their concerns. Where mineral extraction is concerned, however, these rules do not apply.

The original licence was granted in 1965 and, at that time, applied forever. In 1980 a new Environment Act modified the rules and allowed county councils the opportunity to review existing licences, but limited this to a consideration of the operating and restoration conditions. They were not able to overturn the previous planning consent.

This review did not take place until 1998, when Devon simply modified the transport arrangements and imposed some stipulations regarding the restoration of the site.

This review takes place every 15 years and is not, therefore, due until 2013. At no point in this sad history has there ever been a requirement to consult with local people. The licence does not expire until 2042!

In 1998 Devon actually overturned elements of the licence relating to Blackhill Quarry on Woodbury Common. This it was able to do because its was prepared to fully compensate Aggregate Industries for its loss of income.

The implication of this was that Blackhill soon became non-viable and Aggregate Industries needed to find a suitable replacement.

Apparently Devon did not consider the full implication of this for Venn Ottery. The county could again choose compensation to reduce the impact on Venn Ottery or, indeed, to withdraw the licence. This would cost it a considerable sum but it could do it should it feel that our quality of life and our precious native wildlife are of greater value.

The point is that an awful lot has changed since 1965 and it is remarkable that none of these factors can be used to modify the existing licence.

The area has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a County Wildlife Site and three surrounding areas have been formally designated as nature reserves. It is home to a range of endangered species all of which were relatively abundant in 1965.

Our roads are roughly three times busier than they were then and the size of HGV vehicles has more than doubled. Furthermore the demography of the area has entirely changed and it has become both a significant equestrian centre and a valuable recreational area for many local people who enjoy the kind of leisure time that did not exist in 1965.

In five years' time there will be no Dartford warblers or nightjars, no adders or southern damselflies, no stoats or weasels. For the past five years we have enjoyed the sound of the cuckoo that regularly haunts this area — I fear we will not hear that sound next spring or ever again.

There have been successful campaigns that have forced Devon County Council to consider the views of those who it serves as well as the interests of big business. We intend this to be one of them.

Bob Butler

Venn Ottery