Local community

Many of our larger sites operate liaison committees attended by councillors, council officers and residents’ representatives. We promote visits to our sites, particularly from schools and community organisations. In addition, our three cement plants all produce community newsletters to keep residents and businesses informed about their activities and provide a conduit for further information.

The percentage of sites with liaison activities rose slightly but visitor numbers were behind 2015 when they were boosted by extraordinary public interest in a pair of Bee Eaters nesting at our Low Gelt quarry in Cumbria. Open days at Batts Combe quarry in Somerset, Chipping Sodbury quarry in South Gloucestershire and Padeswood cement plant in Flintshire attracted a total of 1,600 visitors.

We help charities and voluntary groups in communities close to our sites and offices through the Hanson in the Community scheme. In 2016 we provided cash or materials to support over 120 organisations to the value of £92,000. Our employee charity matching scheme contributed over £22,000 to 42 charities during 2016. The scheme encourages employees to raise money for charity by matching their fund-raising up to £500 and has helped raise more than £1.2 million since its introduction in 1994.

We are corporate patrons of CRASH, the construction industry charity which provides accommodation for the homeless, and we support a number of other smaller environmental and community-based organisations and charities including the Freshwater Habitats Trust and Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

We held three public exhibitions during 2016 to present proposals for extensions to existing quarries. The exhibitions provide an opportunity for local residents to view and comment on the proposals prior to planning applications being submitted.

Five of our sites are within national parks and we are active members of the Corporate Forum for National Parks, which encourages dialogue between the Campaign for National Parks, the park authorities and the businesses which operate within the parks. Our larger sites operate local liaison committees to promote community engagement.

Community relations

Community relations
	2010 (baseline)	2014	2015	2016
Relevant sites	69	55	49	49
Sites holding three liaison events	46 (67%)*	36 (65%)	34 (69%)	35 (71%)
Visitor numbers	8,843	25,752	29,856	20,906

Click here for data by business line

* One event in 2010

Target: At least five community liaison events a year at every quarry by 2020.