Wiltshire Community Devastated as Quarry Plans Approved Despite Fierce Opposition

In a move that has sparked outrage among the local community, a planning inspector has approved a new quarry project in Wiltshire, England. The decision, made on November 5, 2025, grants Wiltshire firm Earthline permission to extract 470,000 tonnes of aggregate over an 8-year period from Wheatleys Farm in Ashton Keynes.

The proposal faced fierce opposition from the parish councils of Ashton Keynes, South Cerney, and Leigh, with 249 letters of objection and a petition of 88 names submitted against the plans. Councillor Gavin Grant has described the result as "desperately disappointing" and a "travesty" for the local community.

Grant argues that the quarry will "essentially create a giant landfill site" and increase flooding risks in the area. He has criticized Wiltshire Council for not standing by the community and leaving residents to "fight a big corporation" on their own.

Ashton Keynes parish councillor Chuck Berry lamented the loss of a "David vs Goliath battle," with residents now worried about the long-term impacts of the quarry. Despite concerns over environmental damage and disruption to the community, the planning inspector determined that the quarry would meet the need for minerals in nearby construction projects.

Earthline, the company behind the quarry, has stated that they are "simply continuing the tradition of gravel quarrying in the area." However, the local community remains deeply concerned about the future consequences of this controversial decision.