Stop the Quarry

What's Railtrack's line?

Sir Robert Horton, chairman of Railtrack plc, has published an impressive Environmental Policy Statement, stating the guidelines which Railtrack aims to operate in accordance with.  The entire policy can be viewed at their website (www.railtrack.co.uk/corporate/crr/text/enviro/1.htm).  Also on their site is Railtrack's Environmental Commitment. In the light of Railtrack's proposals for the quarry at Hinksey, we think these pages are worthy of a visit.  In fact we would particularly recommend that the project planners and environmental specialists employed by Railtrack plc familiarise themselves with these policies.   What Railtrack is asking of us: To accept them increasing the amount of rail traffic using the existing lines which already produce a large amount of noise and vibration. To accept the extra noise whch will be generated by their operations using mechanical plant to move thousands of tons of gravel around their site, into and out of metal container wagons. To accept the potential destruction of a beautiful Green Belt site while they keep hold of their alternative brown field sites in Swindon, Reading and Didcot, which could be sold off for enormous profits in the future. To accept that there will be no long term health risks to local residents and school children through exposure to dusts which are known to cause silicosis and other breathing problems.   What Railtrack is offering the communities of South Hinksey and South Oxford in return: Nothing.  While there are many negative aspects to this quarry, there are no benefits (to anyone other than Railtrack's shareholders) which could not be gained from relocating the site to many other locations in the region.