Institute of Quarrying - West of England Branch

	Technical & Event Summaries 2010 May: The Mining Waste Directive Apr: Education, Training and Competence - IQ Vision of the Future Mar: Rock & Soil Slope Stabilisation Feb: Biodegradable Oils Jan: Annual General Meeting 2009 Dec: Member's Paper Evening Oct: Explosives Record Keeping Sept: Water Framework Directive Apr: Foam Dust Suppression Technology Jan: Annual General Meeting 2008 Nov: HSE Hot Topics presentation Sept: Mining limestone in Spain Apr: Quarry Restoration Mar: Calculating a carbon footprint for your operations Feb: Mine stabilisation at Coombe Down, Bath Jan: Annual General Meeting 2007 Nov: Uses of Recycled Materials Oct: Blasting Technology Sept: Field Trip Mar: Alternatives to Blasting Feb: European Standards for Asphalt Jan: Annual General Meeting 2006 Dec: Members Paper Evening Nov: Corporate Manslaughter Paper Sept: WBV (Whole Body Vibration) May: Worker Attitudes, Personality and Risk Propensity Apr: Confined Space Rescue in Quarries Mar: Asset Management in the Quarrying Industry 2005 Dec: Members Paper Evening Nov: The Aggregate Levy Oct: Tarmac’s Journey to Zero Tolerance on Health and Safety Sept: Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations May: Golf Day Apr: Further Education in the Quarrying Industry Mar: Energy Efficiency Measures Feb: Future for Recovered Fuel Oil (RFO) Jan: Annual General Meeting 2004 Dec: Members Paper Evening Nov: Water Act 2003 & Catchment Abstraction Mgmt Strategy (CAMS) Oct: Falconry Sep: A Safety Evening with the HSE Jun: Field Visit - Kempsford Quarry May: Marketing Sustainablility Apr: Explosive Regulations Mar: CDM regulations Feb: Working Time Directive Jan: AGM 2003 Dec: Members' Paper Evening Nov: Competition Act Oct: Aggregates Levy Funding for Wild Spaces Sep: Energy Conservation in Quarries May: The WRAP Aggregates Programme Apr: Hot Topics from the HSE Mar: New European Specifications for Aggregates Feb: Archaeology at Bestwell Quarry Jan: Safety for Life Seminar

14^th November 2005 - The Aggregate Levy

On the 14th November the Branch held a Technical Evening at the Mendip House Hotel, Frome.

The presentation 'The Aggregate Levy' was given by Ken Hobden, the Minerals and Waste Technical Advisor for Somerset County Council. It was well attended by 46 members.

A brief history of the levy was given.

The primary objectives of the levy were outlined as, to reduce demand for primary construction aggregates and to address the environmental impact of aggregates production and transport on the local communities.

Since its introduction the levy has raised 2002/3 £247m, 2003/4 £339m and 2004/5 £335m.

Of these amounts the ALSF has received £27.5m, £25.8m, £20.3m respectively and year to date 2005/6 £26.8m.

The overall management of the ALSF is carried out by DEFRA, and the objectives are to;

The ALSF is distributed nationwide to all areas where minerals are extracted and the sums are proportionate to the volumes of extraction associated with the area.

Ken reported that since 2002 Somerset has received £2.5m in funds.

Various projects around the county were then shown including areas such as Educational, Geo-diversity, Geological, Grassland/nature reserves, local village facilities which were all funded.

In all, 90 projects have received £1.2m locally since 2002. These had been chosen by the Somerset Minerals Forum who administer the Somerset ALSF.

Following questions from the floor P.Barkwill gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the branch.

A.Shakeshaft - Branch committee member