Over 50 people attended a seminar in Staffordshire at which our new consultant, Brian Wake, and director Clare Simmons spoke on Mineral issues on 9th October. The Seminar was run in conjunction with the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and consulting engineers Wardell Armstrong, and covered all aspects of mineral operations. Landowners, agents and other advisers listened to topics ranging from the history of manorial law to the taxation of mining revenues.
The venue was chosen to show the types of after-use that can be developed following the end of quarrying; the main part of the conference took place in the memorable surroundings of the National Memorial Arboretum. The Arboretum and its visitor centre were constructed on a worked out sand and gravel quarry operated by Lafarge, and the afternoon session consisted of a visit to the working areas of the quarry, and also to a youth and activity centre based around the lakes created on a different part of the site.