Local MP visits quarry in Stanway
Witham MP Priti Patel has visited Tarmac’s Colchester Quarry site in Stanway to discuss their plans for minerals and aggregates extraction and the work they are doing to support the construction industry and to decarbonise their operations. Tarmac is the UK’s leading business providing aggregates for use in road construction and maintenance as well as building products. Their operations in Colchester support approximately 100 jobs and provide vital aggregates used to produce ready mixed concrete and mortar products for house building.
During her visit Priti met with Alan Everard (Head of Strategic Planning, South Region), Steve Wallis (Senior Operations Manager) and Dwight DeMorais (Public Policy Advisor) and discussed Tarmac’s Sustainability Strategy, their approach to decarbonising their operations and a national mineral strategy, which Priti has consistently lobbied the government for. Priti toured the site and saw firsthand the mineral retrieving process which takes place in the quarry and also discussed plans for future growth and Tarmac’s partnership with Colchester Zoo to support opportunities for their future expansion.
After her visit to the site Priti said: “Tarmac is a UK leading business and I was delighted to tour their site, see their operations and discuss their future business plans. Minerals extraction forms a vital part of our economy in Essex and supports building projects throughout the region and across the country. I was pleased to hear of their plans to innovate to reduce the carbon footprint of their operations and to discuss the need for a national mineral strategy, which is something I have lobbied the government on to mitigate risks and to improve the resilience of critical mineral supply chains.”
Commenting on the visit, Alan Everard, Tarmac, said “It was a pleasure to welcome Dame Priti Patel back to Tarmac’s Colchester sand and gravel quarry and Dry Silo Mortar operation. Much has changed since she last visited us so it was useful to bring her up to date with those developments and some of the challenges we are currently dealing with. It’s really important that locally elected representatives have a good grasp of what is happening in their area and how it might affect their constituents. It was heartening to know that Dame Priti takes a keen interest in the success of our operation, not just for the local area, but the economy as a whole.”