A PROTEST group fighting plans for a major new quarry at Hewelsfield fear a new route has been chosen for a private road to run stone from the quarry to the A48.

The campaigners also claim the new route would destroy a piece of ancient limestone pavement, which is very scarce and illegal to damage.

St Briavels Against Quarrying – affiliated to a larger group called Action Against Quarrying involving most of the settlements between the proposed site and the main road – has called a public meeting to discuss the matter this Thursday.

This follows the possible frustration of earlier plans which had been to build a private road between the B4228 St Briavels-Chepstow road and the A48 because of a wrangle over the sale of Poor's Allotment.

"We believe they have simply moved their plans closer towards St Briavels, through Oakhill and East Wood on the Chase and onto The Slad to avoid Poor's Allotment," said Jan Dunbar, a leading campaigner for Tidenham Against Quarrying.

Should the quarry and road open there would be a massive increase in heavy truck traffic, she said, adding the St Briavels meeting in St Briavels Assembly Rooms at 7.30pm would outline the new route and update everyone on moves so far.

The quarry proposal reaches its inquiry stage with Gloucestershire County Council on September 5.

"Unfortunately the Poor's Allotment business doesn't seem to have harmed them at all – they have simply moved their plans to other land," she said.

"There is a limestone pavement directly on the route. It is only a small piece, but it has been in the news because it is protected and becoming scarce. The Forestry Commission used to keep it cleared.

"Tidenham Against Quarrying reminds Forest Enterprise that they are there to manage the woods for us. We will fight to protect our environment."

Consulting geologists and environmental engineers Greenfield Associates are working on the quarry plans for an as-yet undisclosed quarrying company. The Review asked them for comment on the issue but we had received no response at the time of going to press.

•Drybrook parish councillors have had a change of heart over the village's huge quarry. In an about-turn they are now objecting to an extension proposed in the County Council's Minerals Local Plan.

They have told the county council of their "gravest concerns" following recent revelations about the encroachment of the quarry towards the village.

Councillors say their objection takes into account the quality of life of all the parishioners.

They have also withdrawn support for footpath alterations – it had originally been given they say, "in total ignorance of recently emerging information."