ALSF passes milestone

SOME 200 guests assembled at the Museum of London on 16 October for the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) Milestone Event in celebration of the achievements associated with some 200 projects supported by the fund to date.

Following a speech of welcome by Sir Martin Doughty, chairman of English Nature, the guest speaker, Simon van der Byl, director general of the Quarry Products Association, gave a robust explanation of why the aggregates levy was both misguided and unnecessary, and creating unintended harmful side effects for sections of the industry.

On the other hand he applauded many of the projects which had been funded through the ALSF and said that the QPA had no hesitation in encouraging its members to look for opportunities to work with community groups, conservation groups and others to seek ALSF funding for worthwhile projects.

Tom Levitt, MP and co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Minerals Group, said that, while he viewed the major aggregates companies as responsible managers and that he had not been in favour of an aggregates tax, he nevertheless considered the two-year ALSF pilot scheme to have been a success.

Presentations were then made by the three agencies responsible for distributing funds: The Countryside Agency; English Heritage; and English Nature. These presentations focused on six diverse and interesting projects designed to: improve public access to recreational space in former mineral workings; facilitate co-operation between the industry and archeological interests; and promote rehabilitation and environmental improvements at or near quarry sites.

In concluding, Richard Morris of English Heritage commented that a major achievement of the fund was to bring the industry together with the three agencies for the first time with a common objective of working together for mutual benefit.