THE company behind plans for a new quarry in the centre of Hamble has responded to criticism in the House of Commons. 

Eastleigh MP, Paul Holmes, slammed CEMEX on Tuesday saying the company's proposal poses a "material risk to the health" of residents. 

A planning application has been lodged for mineral extraction at the former Hamble Airfield site that would see 1.7 million tonnes of soil and gravel dug up. 

The company has now responded to criticism saying it has worked closely with the county council and consulted with residents.

READ MORE: MP slams Hamble quarry plans as bill presented to parliament

A spokesperson for the company said: “Minerals can only be worked where they are found naturally in the ground and where it is viable to extract. 

"Where it is essential for quarries to be close to communities, the Local Planning Authority have to be satisfied that these can be operated without any unacceptable effects on amenity or the environment. 

"Robust Environmental Impact Assessments are carried out already as part of the planning process and assessed by the Minerals Planning Authority and their technical experts.

"CEMEX continues to work closely with Hampshire County Council in relation to our proposals for the former Hamble Airfield and address consultee comments accordingly, including those on air quality.

"We have consulted with the local community as set out in our Statement of Community Involvement, and have recently offered further meetings and a site visit to the Parish.”

But residents say the "only attempt at engagement has been online towards the end of lockdown, which is not an effective way of engaging with a community".

READ MORE: Hamble quarry: 39 health professionals raise concerns

Raising a planning bill to parliament, Mr Holmes called on further restrictions for quarry proposals close to homes. 

He told MPs that Hamble's is "woefully overloaded and subject to large traffic congestion" adding that concerns have been "ignored". 

But CEMEX said: "Restricting quarries to being away from communities is very likely to result in HGVs travelling much further afield to reach where the mineral is needed, which is unsustainable environmentally."

The Hamble Peninsular Residents Group added that CEMEX hasn't visited the village, schools or businesses despite being invited by the Parish Council.  

"CEMEX assert that 'minerals can only be worked ….. where it is viable to extract'; 'Robust environmental impacts have been carried out' and to support this, they have submitted documents that we believe are factually incorrect, full of gaping holes and based on outdated and / or incomplete data, in order to demonstrate viability.

"As residents, we remain deeply concerned about the impact that 144 lorry movements per day, the dust, the water pollution from run-off, and the loss of green space will have on the health safety and wellbeing of the community.

"If CEMEX really believe and live by their own values and “Care for our people, our communities and our natural resources“, their own research should identify that this really isn’t a suitable location for a quarry."