People across Suffolk are being asked for their views on proposals for sand and gravel quarrying at 10 sites over the next decade.

When the plans were first announced last year there was concern in a number of communities and now residents have six weeks to make representations on the proposals.

Suffolk County Council, as a minerals and waste planning authority, is required as part of the planning framework to make a provision for sand and gravel supplies for the construction industry – based largely on the average of sales over the previous 10 years, which is 1.112 million tonnes per year.

The sites identified are Barham, Barnham, Belstead, Cavenham, Layham, Tattingstone, Wangford, Wetherden, Wherstead and Worlington.

People in Belstead were most vociferously against the plans for a new quarry in the village – claiming it would cause horrendous traffic problems on narrow roads.

Following consultation, three of the proposed sites have now been reduced in area and additional policies have been introduced on all proposed sites

Paul West, Suffolk County Council's cabinet member with responsibility for the plan, said: 'We have listened carefully to the feedback from the most recent consultation and taken this into account in the development of the draft minerals and waste plan.

'The size of three of the proposed sites has now been reduced and site specific policies have been introduced on all sites.

'Only the feedback from this consultation will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.

'So, even if individuals, local communities and businesses have provided comments during previous stages, it is important that they give their feedback during this six week period.'

The consultation will run until 5pm on July 23.

There will also be 10 consultation events where members of the public can learn more about the preferred sites, speak to members of the minerals and waste team and fill in the consultation survey.

To find out more about these drop-in events, visit www.suffolk.gov.uk/mineralsandwaste

Once the plan has been adopted, quarrying companies will still need to submit a planning application to the county council to extract materials.