top of page

Gearing up for the September Hearing

MJ-PH-Quarry-landscape-2u6535589847_photo_Sand_quarry_site_within_a_pine_forest_UK_vi_37cb

Considerable fresh efforts are underway within, across and for our community to get Purple Haze out of Hampshire’s Minerals & Waste Plan once and for all. Here’s the latest update regarding the upcoming Additional Public Hearing for Purple Haze – specifically regarding Purple Haze – which is to be held 9th September 2025 . . .

​

Working with others, we are preparing to submit evidence to the Hearing in response to the Purple Haze site continuing inclusion in Hampshire’s Minerals & Waste Plan (Partial Update 2023).

​

We recently told our supporters that Hampshire County Council (HCC) had commissioned its own independent study addressing the serious hydrology related concerns articulated during the February 2025 Public Hearings - February 2025 Public Hearings - see the hydrology report here.

 

One resultant concern that resonated particularly from both the earlier Hearings and the subsequent HCC-commissioned study is the serious lack of adequate long-term protection for internationally protected Ebblake Bog (RAMSAR, SSSi, etc.).

​

We have since been in touch with HCC following its offer to both Friends of Ringwood Forest (FoRF) and the East Dorset Environment Partnership (EDEP) to submit advance questions/observations about its Hydrology Report. HCC's yet to be completed responses to our joint questioning directed both FoRF and EDEP towards fresh, new research concerning Ebblake Bog itself. This particularly focussed on the Report’s indications about how the bog could be adequately protected should the development of Purple Haze be permitted. We intend to challenge those assertions made in the Report.

.

One warmly welcomed event has been the invitation from Verwood Town Council (VTC) to meet up with EDEP & VTC participants before the Hearing. We see it as an opportunity to enable our individual contributions to be complementary on the day, thereby providing a cohesive picture of informed objection from a concerned community.

​

All the time we are exploring additional ways to oppose the Purple Haze allocation, we have to bear in mind the Planning Inspector’s ’s recent Guidance on how the Additional Hearing will proceed. See the relevant documents regarding: Guidance notes for Hearing and Matters Planning Inspector wishes to address

​

The campaign to stop Purple Haze is far from over. Thank you for sticking with us.

Following Examination Hearings, held between 4th and 13th February 2025, additional specialist advice was received regarding the Purple Haze proposed allocation as a sand quarry. As a result, a second  Hearing (virtual/on-line and specifically relating to Purple Haze) was held on Tuesday 9th September 2025. The February and September Hearings were called for by a Planning Inspector, appointed by the Secretary of State. The Planning Inspector's role is basically to rule on the soundness and legality of HCC's Plan, not on individual planning applications in this case. Following a Public Hearing, the Inspector compiles a report which is then formally submitted, on behalf of the Secretary of State, to HCC. The Planning Inspector's role in this case is explained in more detail below.

​

TEXT FROM LINKS

​

Please note that clicking on any of the links below will cause you to leave this site. However, clicking the back arrow of your browser may get you back to the site. Alternatively, you may be able to click on a tab in your browser name Liveforest.

​

Hampshire County Council is abbreviated here as 'HCC'. The Hampshire Minerals & Waste Plan is abbreviated here to 'HMWP' or 'Plan'. Purple Haze forms a part of the Plan at this stage.

​

Following Examination Hearings, held between 4th and 13th February 2025, additional specialist advice was received regarding the Purple Haze proposed allocation as a sand quarry. As a result, a second  Hearing (virtual/on-line and specifically relating to Purple Haze) was held on Tuesday 9th September 2025. The February and September Hearings were called for by a Planning Inspector, appointed by the Secretary of State. The Planning Inspector's role is basically to rule on the soundness and legality of HCC's Plan, not on individual planning applications in this case. Following a Public Hearing, the Inspector compiles a report which is then formally submitted, on behalf of the Secretary of State, to HCC. The Planning Inspector's role in this case is explained in more detail below.

​

The hearing processes have been informal with 'round-table' sessions led by the Planning Inspector. This process is in contrast to the more formal, traditional format of a public inquiry. Accordingly, there were no cross-examinations or formal presentation of parties’ cases.

​

The document links below provide a background to the purpose of the Hearing.

​Guidance notes for Hearing

Matters Planning Inspector wishes to address

​

The September Hearing session was a continuation of Matters 9 and 1 as detailed in the Inspector's Matters, Issues, and Questions (document ID03) having regard to the specialist advice that was provided and regard to any implications thereof.

 

The specialist advice is published as document EX38. This document is of particular interest and contains a topic which was much discussed at the September hearing: a hydrology report on Purple Haze by consultants Jacobs. Geo-hydrologists representing Verwood Town Council and the developer Grundon participated in the meeting.

​

EX38-Specialist-advice-on-PurpleHazehydrology-030725.pdf.

 

All documents relating to the HCC Plan, including those discussed above, are published in HCC's Examination Library for matters relating to the plan. This library can be viewed here here 

​​

​Contact us

info@forf.org.uk

https://www.facebook.com/No2PurpleHaze/

bottom of page