FIVE million tonnes of sand and gravel could be removed from the Cotswolds if plans submitted by the Co-operative Group are given the go-ahead.

The consumer group owns a large patch of land next the A419 known as the Down Ampney Estate.

The Co-op has been extracting sand and gravel from the 253-hectare site, which is to the east of Latton village, since 1996 and the plans represent the second phase of the development.

The site is next to two existing quarries operated by Tarmac and Moreton C Cullimore.

Quarry company Hanson Aggregates has been chosen to undertake the work.

A spokesman for Hanson if the permission is granted, the land will be worked and restored in small sections so that the area disturbed at any one time is kept to a minimum.

The majority of the site will be returned to a mix of open water, reed beds and agricultural grassland, with smaller areas of wildflower grassland and wet woodland.

It will be several years until the extraction work begins, by which time it is hoped the construction industry will have picked up and there is demand locally for the material.

The five million tonnes will be extracted over an estimated 12-year period.

A public exhibition is being held at The Cotswold Water Park Gateway Centre, South Cerney, on Wednesday, May 20 between 11am and 8pm to show the proposals to residents and allow feedback.

Hanson’s land and mineral resources manager Paul Williams said: "The restoration plans will aim to increase habitat diversity. There will be no large tracts of open water.

"The Co-operative Group and Hanson have already carried out pre-application consultation with a number of bodies including English Heritage, RSPB and the Environment Agency.

"The public exhibition will allow us to explain the proposals in detail to local residents and outline the measures we will be taking to minimise the impact."

Rob Ellis of the Co-operative added: "The Co-operative has had a long relationship with the area and we are committed to working with local communities. That is why we want to understand their views before submitting the planning application."