Comment

Representation ID: 15517

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Natural England

Dudley

Policy DSA3 - Land at Ketley Quarry, Kingswinford
(DUH203 Ketley Quarry / Ketley Farm, Dudley Road, Kingswinford)

This site allocation includes Ketley Claypit SSSI which is designated for it geological interest features. It is an outstanding section through the upper part of the Etruria Formation of the Carboniferous Period, showing the junction with the overlying Halesowen Formation. The former part of the section has excellent examples of sheet and channel sandstone bodies, separated by purple grey floodplain mudstones, and may be regarded as typical of the fluvial-influenced facies of the Etruria Formation. Only in the English Midlands is this distinctive red-bed facies found in the Westphalian C of northern Europe, and it probably resulted from mountain building processes in action at that time. As an aid to interpreting this highly unusual type of Westphalian strata, this site is of considerable significance.

Any development on this site would need to ensure that it protects and conserves the notified feature. They will need to ensure that a suitably qualified geologist is employed and consult Natural England from the very start of the planning process.