Forces for Change: Borough-Wide
Mineral and Waste Management
The Test Valley Borough is rich in sand and gravel deposits mainly found as plateau gravel and valley gravel. The valley deposits are located across the mouth of the River Test, all way up the River Test Valley and up along its tributaries. Plateau gravels form belts of deposits east and west of Romsey.
As minerals can only be worked where they are found, there is the potential for extensive extraction in these parts of the Borough. Hampshire County Council has, however, adopted the approach of identifying preferred areas for extraction within the county with a strong presumption against extraction outside of these areas. The Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan 1998 identifies two preferred areas within Test Valley Borough at Shootash and Gardeners Lane, Embley. Clay extraction has also been identified in the Michelmersh area.
Landfilling has traditionally been the principle means of the restoration of mineral workings, and still remains in the Local Plan as a means of waste disposal with landfilling including Shootash and Gardeners Lane. However waste recycling, incineration and composting are increasing. The Local Plan seeks to concentrate such facilities within urban areas and no significant proposals have been put forward within the Test Valley countryside. However further changes in waste management may see new forms of development, such as green waste composting in ecopods, larger recycling facilities and multi-purpose sites, which may affect the countryside.
Urban fringe areas and the larger villages also suffer from fly tipping of household and garden waste whilst cars are being dumped in the countryside.