Steve Burton, general manager, Wight Building Materials:

I am writing to offer reassurance to the Wootton community in response to some alarming and false claims that have been circulating about our plans to extract sand and gravel from land at Palmers Farm.

These claims have wrongly suggested that this quarrying would pose a risk to the school – and the wider community – from a health condition called silicosis. This claim is simply untrue.

By way of background, silica is a natural substance found in most rocks, sand and clay. We surround ourselves with silica-rich materials daily through activities such as going to the beach or gardening and silica presents no risk to health.

It is only under certain very specific conditions – none of which will exist at Palmers Farm - that silica dust causes health issues such as silicosis.

These issues occur only after a person has had prolonged exposure to extremely small particles - fine dust with particles too small to see in normal lighting conditions - which are breathed deep into the lungs after evading the body’s natural defences (nose hair, saliva etc).

The greatest risk around silicates occurs not when sand and gravel is quarried but when it is processed. No processing will take place at Palmer’s Farm.

All our processing is undertaken under carefully regulated processes at St George’s Down with the required protections in place.

The Health and Safety Executive has stated that no cases of silicosis have been documented among members of the general public in Britain, indicating that environmental exposure to silica dust is not sufficiently high to cause this occupational disease.

There are other factors to consider.

First and foremost, the quarry at Palmers Farm will have a high moisture content which will naturally suppress dust.

Secondly  the site would operate in accordance with a dust management plan outlining  the steps that will, if required, be taken at Palmers Farm to ensure any dust produced does not pose a risk.

Thirdly, this management plan will be accompanied by a monitoring regime to demonstrate compliance with appropriate air quality standards and dust deposition criterion.

As a further safeguard, the planning process recognises the potential danger of silicates and planning officers will need to be satisfied our application contains acceptable measures to control dust before they can recommend approval.

Having been quarrying on the Island for over 100 years, we are proud of our Island heritage and committed to being good neighbours.

A new quarry is critical both to our business and also to the continued sustainable production of construction materials on the Island. 

We do understand there are local concerns that have to be addressed via the planning process and we want to work with the local community to do that.

Equally, we are keen that decisions on such an important application are made on the available facts - not inaccurate information.

I hope this information allays any misplaced fears that may exist over silicosis.