On Friday the 17th of December members will be asked to accept the Executive's recommendation to succumb to WAG pressure and ear mark the gravel and sand reserves of the Usk Valley for possible extraction. If they accept then the matter goes to the UDP inspector and objectors can formally object at the public inquiry. The inspector's decision could have little consequence as they can be over ruled by WAG anyway.
Before the decision NPR are asking BBNPA members the following :-
Will members have a the opportunity to view all correspondence, agendas and minutes of meetings held with WAG concerning the Usk Valley sand and gravel issue ?
Will the above documentation and the executives recommendation form a Core Document / file that will be placed on the program officer's list as items for the Inspector to access at the UDP public inquiry ?
Conflicting Interests . Perhaps there are , and have been conflicting interest amongst various members of the BBNPA that may need declaring ? Are members aware that the present BBNPA Chairman is a Regional Director for WT Burdens Ltd. http://www.burdens.co.uk/quality/index.cfm which is the largest distributor of civil engineering materials in the UK. Highways and aggregates obviously play a very important role in this industry.
There may also be a few members over the past few years who have land and/ or estate management interests in the Usk Valley that may need declaring as well.
Have members considered why WAG has so much interest in the sand and gravel reserves of the Usk Valley. Could their be a connection with the proposed North/South Wales road connection scheme ? A handy local supply of basic road materials by any chance ?