Bromham quarry

Under the ominous title of Wiltshire and Swindon Minerals Site Options Report, Wiltshire Council has proposed to turn large parts of the county into sand quarries, destroying nature, depriving wildlife of its habitat, affecting people’s health and ruining residents’ livelihoods. All for the sake of fulfilling arbitrary government targets and creating generous profits for a few landowners, whilst leaving homeowners in the affected areas to finance the devaluation of their properties.

Residents now have until 31 October 2010 to register their objections. The situation is not helped by the fact that Wiltshire Council, who will be reviewing the objections, is itself one of the largest landlords, who would benefit from the quarrying activities.

The British government is at odds with itself over the proposal, demanding sand quarries, whilst emphasizing the importance of local food production in a self-sufficiency drive. One of the affected villages, Bromham, is widely known for its excellent vegetable production. The quality of the produce is down to the very same soil that will be destroyed, should the proposal go ahead.

The majority of residents in the villages of Bromham, Rowde and Chittoe is outraged. A residents’ group has been formed. The group fights not only the proposals but also complacency amongst many of the villagers, who wrongly assume that someone else will represent them or that the problem will simply go away.

I started this photography project to show the beauty of the landscape that will be destroyed, to portray the people, who will suffer, and the people, who fight the proposals, and, if it comes to the bitter end, to document the process of destruction.

Humankind routinely inflicts acts of violence and exploitation on its own living space. There will be a day when our only option to experience nature will be a visit to a national park, where we can see what nature used to look like.

If you live in the area and

• would like to be part of this photography project, I would like to hear from you.

• have not yet registered your objections to the proposal, you can find instructions on the Bromham village website.

Even if you do not live in the area, it would do no harm if you aired your views on the destruction of the environment to Wiltshire Council.

You can also post your comments on this page, below the article. This option is open to everyone, whether you live in the area or not. If you do live in the area, please mention where you live. I will send the collected comments to Wiltshire Council before the deadline 31 October.

To get the facts, please refer to the Bromham village website, which also publishes dates of upcoming residents’ meetings.

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The photographs below represent the first instalment of my photography project.

Read all entries for the Bromham quarry proposals

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