Sustainable ball clay mineral extraction.

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to analyse the impact planning and environmental law and policy has on access to ball clay mineral resources in the Wareham Basin, Dorset. Ball clay is a non-renewable resource and planning for its sustainable use involves a consideration of current and future exploitation needs to meet demand as well as the protection of the natural environment in which it is extracted. The Wareham basin is unique in that it combines rare deposits of valuable ball clay with endangered species and habitats. The working of ball clay in this area invariably leads to ecological damage to a fragile environment, conversely, the protection of the ecological resource leads to sterilisation of a mineral of national economic importance. It has been argued that the current legislative framework does not strike a fair balance between those conflicting interests.