VILLAGERS in Sherston have re-formed the Knockdown Protection Group to fight plans to double the amount of stone extracted from Knockdown Quarry.

Residents have set up a committee to stop quarrying company, R and J Bull, increasing the quantity of stone from 100,000 tons to 200,000 tons a year.

The firm also wants to increase the amount of waste tipped into the quarry from 50,000 tons a year to 200,000 tons a year.

Eric Mandel was appointed as the group's chairman, and county and district councillor, Lesley Bennett as vice-chairman.

The North Wiltshire district councillor for Sherston, John Thomson, was appointed as media officer.

The committee wants comments on the quarrying company's plans from interested local geologists, hydrologists, transport engineers and planning consultants, and is writing to all parishes in the area to tell them the group has been re-formed.

The group fears the plans will lead to an increase in heavy traffic through Sherston and the surrounding villages, and will cause environmental pollution.

The Knockdown Protection Group was first formed in 1991 to oppose plans by the quarry's previous owners A E Farr Associates, to extend the quarry to Warren Fields.

As a result of strong local opposition the plans were eventually abandoned.

The group got strong support from hundreds of residents in Sherston, Didmarton, Leighterton, Sopworth, Easton Gray and Pinkney.

The protest against the quarry plan was also backed by Sherston and Tetbury parish councils, and Malmesbury Town Council.