RESIDENTS have reacted with dismay to the approval of a new quarry on their doorstep.

Hills Quarry Products has been given the go-ahead by Oxfordshire County Council to replace its sand quarry at Tubney Wood with a soft sand one at Upwood Park, Besselsleigh.

Householders who objected to the development fear they will now be subjected to 20 years of noise, dust and traffic.

The new site, which covers an area of 22.4 hectares and has a potential mineral reserve of 1.4m tonnes, will replace the company’s Tubney Wood quarry when that closes at the end of 2012 and is restored to woodland.

It is expected that average annual output from the Besselsleigh site will be 85,000 tonnes, but planning officers have given permission for up to 100,000 tonnes per year, giving the site a 15 to 18-year lifespan.

Elspeth Amey, of Rowleigh Lane, Besselsleigh, said: “I am not happy. It's about 200 yards from my house.

“It is right on my garden. I am going to have dust and mess for 20 years when they start, plus the noise of the lorries.”

Jeff Burley, of Wantage Road, Frilford, said: “We are distraught. The main issue that they (Hills) have not worked out properly is the impact it is going to have on traffic, safety and vehicle access on the A338.

“They are going to have at least 40 trucks a day on a road which is frantically busy, particularly during rush hour, and it is close to the A420 — another busy road.”

Mr Burley’s wife, Jean, said: “I am heartbroken. It's going to be 20 years of hell, noise, dust and traffic. We are destroying all our beautiful countryside little by little.”

Gillian Buck, of Besselsleigh, said: “I don't like anything that digs up the countryside and spoils the landscape.”

Approving the scheme will enable the council to meet minimum Government targets for maintaining sand mineral reserves in the county.

A council spokesman said: “There have been a number of objections from local residents regarding traffic, loss of ecology, hydrological impacts, dust, noise, impacts on the landscape and archaeology, although no objections have been received from statutory consultees. These issues have been addressed in the report.

“The proposals do not conflict with development plan policies.

“There is a need for soft sand in order to maintain reserves, which has to be weighted against the potential environmental impacts.”

Following the closure of the Tubney Wood site, sand output at Upwood Park will start, with the extraction phased and the land progressively restored within the field boundaries.

The site will be hidden from the view of walkers or riders on footpaths and bridleways in the area by woodland and grassed banks.

When the operation at Upwood Park is finished — expected to be by 2030 — three of the four fields will be returned to agricultural use. The fourth and largest field, next to the national nature reserve, will be passed to Berkshire, Bucking-hamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) for nature conservation.