Discussion on BBC Radio Somerset at 0730 Mon 28-Jun-21 of the impact of Westdown Quarry,  should the planning application be approved by Somerset County Council. Anyone can object, wherever you live. See instructions below, and email your objection now!

To: planning@somerset.gov.uk
Subject: [ATTENTION Kirk Denton] I am writing to object to planning applications SCC/3795/2021, SCC/3836/2021/IDO,SCC/3837/2021/IDO, and SCC/3838/2021/ROMP
Text:
I write to object to planning applications SCC/3795/2021, SCC/3836/2021/IDO, SCC/3837/2021/IDO, and SCC/3838/2021/ROMP.
SAY WHY
ADD YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND POSTCODE

MORE DETAILS

Hanson has submitted a proposal to re-open the huge quarry, disused for 40 years and popular with dog walkers, that adjoins Asham Wood. A third super-quarry between Torr and Whatley would create some local jobs, which Hanson describes as managerial. Being right next to a Site of Special Scientific Interest, it would also have devastating environmental impact. Ancient woods in the UK are now under serious threat (https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/press-centre/2020/01/thousand-threatened-ancient-woods), and Asham is the largest and most diverse in the Mendips.
Analysis of the huge documents submitted with the applications reveals them to be full of holes, particularly around evidence of need and long-term plans. So what is going on? This seems to be a desperate attempt to secure planning permission before public fears about the climate crisis force changes in government policy (as debated at the G7 in Cornwall) that prevent any possibility of it ever being granted in future.

Let's forget the 33% increase in lorry traffic. The noise and light pollution. The unknown effects of massive quarrying beneath the water table. Let's even forget the irreversible ecosystem damage to the most important ancient woodland in Mendip.

Westdown has 160,000,000 tonnes of proven reserves. Read that number again. If this application is allowed, forget net zero in Mendip. On the contrary. By opening a third super-quarry just as global leaders finally start to combat climate change, our area will go down in history as infamous.

Extractive industries are responsible for half of the world’s carbon emissions and more than 80% of biodiversity loss (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/mar/12/resource-extraction-carbon-emissions-biodiversity-loss). Do you want our area to become infamous in the global fight against climate change - a case study that helps hold the door open for continued environmental damage by multinationals?

But to stop Westdown, all you have to do is send an email. How hard is that?

Discussion of Westdown Quarry on BBC Somerset (0730, 28-Jun-21)

24-Sep-21 RIP Pee Wee Ellis - a kind and thoughtful man who was much loved both on stage and in person. As well as being a brilliant and inspirational sax player, composer, arranger, and bandleader, Pee Wee did a lot for his community (for example, helping raise £1000 for Fair Frome in 2019) and had a terrific sense of humour. Here he is singing Esther Phillips' raunchy "Cherry Red" in a live performance for local radio in 1999.

My Neighbourhood

Pee Wee Ellis singing Cherry Red

Two songs, played here on solo piano with no vocals
1. Deep Green - bluesy but not a blues
2. Song of Songs - a setting of the biblical poem

Westbury Festival 2021

Song of Songs

Deep Green

Frome FM 31-Oct-21, "Performance"

Keith Harrison-Broninski talking about Pee Wee Ellis and jazz in the community

Frome FM 31-Oct-21 - Performance

Frome FM 31-Oct-21 - Keith Harrison-Broninski talking about Pee Wee Ellis and jazz in the community

The Seikilos Epitaph played on English concertina.

Probably by Seikilos to his wife Euterpe, on her tombstone, c.200AD.

My version of the lyrics in English:

"While you live, be glad as you may
Do not be sad for a single day
Life is but short and it slips away
Time has a toll that we all must pay"

Seikilos Epitaph

From the "My Neighbourhood" album recorded with Pee Wee Ellis in the early days of the Nunney Jazz Cafe.  Listen how PW tears it up after the piano solo!

Tag Alone

Keith Harrison-Broninski of Frome Jazz Club (and the now legendary Nunney Jazz Cafe) interviewed by Claire Cavanagh for BBC Radio Bristol.  Also broadcast on BBC Radio Somerset.

Frome Jazz Club - BBC Radio Bristol - 9 April 2014

An original tune by Keith Harrison-Broninski from the 2004 album "Deep River", featuring Craig Crofton (sax), Keith Harrison-Broninski (piano), Dave Griffiths (double bass) and Kevin O'Rourke (drums).

Waiting For My Train To Come

A classical composition by Keith Harrison-Broninski based on the jewish prayer "Kaddish", performed and recorded by Pee Wee Ellis (sax) and the Bristol Ensemble at St George's, Bristol.

Kaddish

The oldest complete annotated piece of ancient music is a hymn in Ugaritic cuneiform syllabic writing which was dedicated to Nikkal, the wife of the Moon God, thought to be a goddess of orchards.

This was published upon its discovery in Ugarit by Emmanuel Laroche, first in 1955 and then more fully in 1968, and has been the focus of many subsequent studies in palaeomusicology.  The song is about 3400 years old.

There have been many attempts to interpret the musical notation (which is written in Akkadian), mostly quite different from one another.  The words are harder to decipher, being in an older and less well-known language (Hurrian), but may be a woman's prayer for fertility.

Goddess of Orchards

Jazz/classical composer for ensemble performance and musical theatre - "a revelation", Venue Magazine, of "Songs of the Spirit and the Senses".

Jazz pianist - "a fine pianist", The Independent, of a solo performance at Wiltshire Music Centre.

English concertina player at folk sessions and festivals, drawing on traditions from across the world.

Keith Harrison-Broninski

Popular tracks