GLOUCESTERSHIRE County Council is moving a step closer towards adopting its new Minerals Local Plan for 2018-2032.

Next week, cabinet will be asked to recommend that full council approve the publication of the Minerals Local Plan for Gloucestershire.

The county council is the local minerals planning authority (MPA) and it has a legal duty to prepare a minerals local plan to replace the existing Gloucestershire Minerals Local Plan that was adopted in 2003.

The plan sets out the council’s policy on mineral extraction – that includes crushed rock limestone, sand and gravel used as aggregates, natural building stone, clay for brick making and civil engineering purposes, as well as oil and gas extraction (including fracking).

It highlights the sites where mineral working could be allowed to happen in the future. However, this does not automatically mean these sites will be used, as applicants will still require planning permission before any extraction work can be carried out.

The new Gloucestershire Minerals Local Plan (2018-2032), has been through several preparation stages before adoption. Previous consultations have taken place to cover potential sites and policy options in 2014 and 2016.

Cllr Nigel Moor, cabinet member for fire, planning and infrastructure, said: “Your views have been very helpful in shaping our plan for the future. We’ve given careful consideration to the feedback received from previous consultations and as a result we have made changes to the plan.

“I’ve listened very carefully to the advice of the cross-party panel on fracking, and will implement their unanimous recommendation.

"As there are no licenses in place for any oil or gas extraction in the county and no plans nationally for any to be issued, a policy at this stage would be premature, so we have removed the draft policy from the plan.

“If there is need for a policy in the future, we are ready as a planning authority to review our position. I should be clear though – we don’t expect that this situation will arise, but we are ready if it does.”

Following publication and any further amendments, the plan will be submitted to the secretary of state for housing, communities, and local government for independent examination.

If the county council gives its final approval, the aim is to have a new adopted plan in place for 2019.