Local Member of Parliament, Kate Kniveton, has met with the Managing Director of The Globe Group CIC, Kate Copeland and Nicola Lynes, Support Staffordshire, to hear about an exciting project idea for the future of the quarry just off the A50. Meeting at the Globe’s Eco Centre in Uttoxeter, the local MP was briefed on ambitious plans to redevelop the quarry currently owned by Aggregate Industries, which is due to be decommissioned in the coming years, into a wetland and climate visitor centre for the local community and visitors to enjoy, building towards a 2030 vision.
The plans are being developed with help from the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and the National Lottery funded Transforming the Trent Valley project, led by the Trust, which wants the Uttoxeter Quarry to be one of a series of interconnected lakes and nature reserves forming the largest wetland area and visitor destination in the Midlands, covering an area of over 200km2. The project partners are now looking to broaden its coalition of support and identify possible financial backers to turn their vision for the quarry into reality.
As part of the meeting, Ms Kniveton gave her support to the plans and agreed to host an event in Parliament to drum up support for the proposals amongst Government ministers and national politicians.
Commenting, Kate Kniveton MP said:
“I want to thank Kate at The Globe Group and the team for outlining a really exciting vision for the future of the Uttoxeter quarry, ensuring that this is a space that can be enjoyed by the whole community. “We have a fantastic opportunity here to create something quite unique but also deliver new jobs and offer employment to local people. The project has my full support for these proposals and I will do all I can in my role as the local Member of Parliament to progress these plans.”
The Globe’s Kate Copeland added:
“We are really excited about the plans to the quarry and what it could mean for biodiversity locally and improve education in sustainability.
“The vision is still very much in its early days and we are exploring investment and support to see these plans progress and we are very grateful to have Kate Kniveton MP’s endorsement. We look forward to working with her to build on the backing and deliverability of these plans.”
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s Chief Executive Julian Woolford added:
“Uttoxeter Quarry has the potential to expand the series of nature reserves running along the length of the Trent, helping make it one of the country’s great wetlands.
“These former quarries and restored river channels can help the UK’s wildlife start to recover as well as helping fight the impacts of climate change".
