Southam Community

The village of Southam has been associated with quarrying since the early 1800s when the quality of its blue lias limestone was recognised, first for making agricultural lime and then for cement. It was in the 1840s that a cement works was built, becoming an important part of the local community for 150 years and providing jobs for several generations of local people.

The cement plant eventually closed in 1999 and a major demolition programme has seen redundant manufacturing buildings removed. Plans are now being considered for the long term use of the site. The quarrying operation resumed in 2003 as a means of supplying raw materials by road to our Rugby plant. It was two years later that the site was taken over by CEMEX when it first came to the UK and acquired RMC.

While part of the old quarry is still in productive use, an area has already been restored in stages over the past 50 years using cement kiln dust from Rugby. That work continued in 2011-12 following a new planning permission which allowed the landfilling of inert material being transferred from the old Parkfield Road quarry in Rugby.

Other areas have regenerated naturally and are home to a legion of wildlife. Butterflies – including some now rare species – thrive on the quarry vegetation and are the subject of a project designed to create further flower-rich grassland.

In April 2010, we announced plans for the extension of the quarry into an area known as Spiers Farm as a means of ensuring high quality raw material for cement making.

View more information about Southam Community Matters at www.cemexcommunities.co.uk