Sunshine and a carnival atmosphere greeted over 150 walkers opposed to further expansion of Mendip's quarries.

Richard Mawer from Westdown Objectors Group said :" This application will take out around 200 acres of Westdown Farm land, dump the overburden into the disused and regenerating Asham Quarry, to quarry around 160,000,000 tonnes of stone over many decades causing a huge increase in lorry traffic.

"All this right next to the ancient and species rich Asham Wood. This will produce an estimated 40 jobs but in the process will cause significant harm to some of the Mendip's most nature rich sites and destroy any chance of Mendip, Somerset and the UK keeping to our net zero carbon targets to stop further climate breakdown."

Cllr Mikey Gay, leader of the Green group on Mendip DC added: " The Mendip quarries currently supply stone to the largest building projects in the UK such as Hinkley Point, HS2, and the road building programme, however Hanson cannot show why this extra stone is needed particularly from Westdown Quarry at this point. We suspect they are cynically applying before Somerset Council and the UK government take overdue action to update their Minerals policy in light of their commitments to net zero by 2030 and 2050 respectively. The UK won't get to net zero if applications like Westdown are approved."

This move to open and expand the quarry is also being rushed through ahead of the introduction of the Environment Bill. Which, once on place, will require far great efforts and investments to retain and replace lost habitats.

If this application is granted the nature of the Mendip hills will be further degraded, and the UK will have zero chance of getting to net zero.

Local resident Indra Donafrancesco said: " We are thrilled that with just one week's notice more than 150 local residents turned up for a walk and picnic, to get to know each other and make plans to Stop Westdown Mega Quarry.

"We look forward to seeing people in the next few months. Donations for the new Protection Camp are much appreciated. We must win this campaign to protect our local environment and to have any chance of stopping global climate collapse'. Think global, act local!

"The planning application will come to Somerset Regulation planning committee in the next few months. Please join the 1000's of petition signers and 100's of objectors in opposing this super quarry which endangers our collective future."

For more information on future walks and picnics visit the FB page ' Stop Westdown Mega Quarry' and objections to [email protected] re SCC/3795/2021, 3836, 3837 and 3838.