AS part of its obligation to ensure there will be enough sand and gravel, North Yorkshire County Council is currently assessing various sites to determine which of them should be put forward for excavation over the next 30 years.

A list of ‘preferred’ sites are now under consultation, and interested parties have until close of business today to submit opinions about them.

I am writing about “land west of Scruton”, site number MJP43 on the council’s list. I live very near it and would be adversely affected by it, and I am aware I may be accused of self-interest, but I think my concern should be shared by the general public.

The overriding problem is that part of this site lies less than two miles from the landing and take-off strips of RAF Leeming. The potential hazard of mineral excavation so close to a runway is enormous.

Quarries are associated with dust and with surface water which attracts large birds. Both are a serious hazard to aircraft. Only a few years ago, planes all over the world were stopped from flying due to Icelandic volcano dust, and the concern over large birds has already been expressed in the form of if the land were to be excavated, it has to be restored to agricultural use rather than converted into a lake, thus eliminating ongoing risk.

But this offers no protection from risk during excavation. The site is a natural collecting area for water and the water table is so high at present that there is a large amount of standing water there.

No matter how safe the working practices are there is always the potential for human error and catastrophe.

Jet fighters, the odd private plane and Hercules transport aircraft are flying less than 200ft above the site. There are about 40 flights per day. Imagine the destruction if any of these aircraft, particularly a jet fighter, was brought down.

Modern working practices may reduce the risk of dust almost entirely, but in how many cases are Chinook and other helicopters flying over a site at hedgerow height?

The agitation caused by the rotor blades would make dust control almost impossible.

There is real and serious risk here – and not just a local one. The A1(M) is less than a mile away and the new Bedale bypass is even closer.

Anyone who may be travelling from Bedale to Northallerton or from Glasgow to London would be exposed to the danger.

Surely it would be bordering on madness to proceed with this site?

The chances of an accident are probably millions to one against, but people are winning the Lottery regularly at such odds. These things happen.

Surely this is a foreseeable risk and a decision should be taken to dispense with this site and opt for somewhere where there are no foreseeable risks.

If I was involved in making a decision to progress this site, I would fully expect to face charges of contributory manslaughter in the event of a worst case scenario.

Mike Widmer, Leeming Bar.