Infill of former mineral extraction sites in floodplains

That this House notes with concern the practice of infilling former mineral extraction sites with inert materials within functional floodplains; further notes significant concerns in the constituency of Henley and Thame, including at Playhatch and Sonning Eye, that such activities may impede groundwater flow, reduce flood storage capacity, and increase flood risk; recognises local objections that restoration using imported waste at Sonning Quarry could have a profound effect on floodplain function and increase flooding in adjacent areas, as well as concerns that inert infill may block groundwater conductivity and pose pollution risks; also notes that this stretch of the River Thames floodplain already experiences frequent and significant flooding, with the Environment Agency examining the cumulative impacts of quarrying and restoration; calls on the Government to introduce a precautionary moratorium on inert waste infilling in functional floodplains, Flood Zone 3b, to strengthen Environment Agency powers to require and enforce robust hydrological assessments, and to reform planning policy so that floodplain function, groundwater flow, and long-term monitoring are prioritised in all mineral site restoration decisions; and notes that restoration to open water and wetland habitats represents a more appropriate, water-compatible approach in such settings.