Local residents have knocked Disney for allowing an abandoned quarry to be transformed into a filmset for the company’s Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi television series.
The former Spade Oak gravel quarry was opened by the Folley Brothers in 1966, before transferring ownership to Lafarge Aggregates in the 1990s.
Located in the UK town of Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire, the site is situated near Spade Oak Lake.
It is no stranger to cult science fiction TV series either. Even as an active working quarry in 1969, the site was the backdrop to an episode of Doctor Who, then starring Jon Pertwee.
Wycombe District Council acquired the quarry from an overseas investor in 2019, where it was reported it was in the process of turning the quarry into a local nature park and visitor attraction.
The Little Marlow Parish Council stated that proposals to turn the quarry into a country park have been put forward as early as the 1960s.
According to The Sun, the site could now be used for up to three years for the Star Wars series.
Residents have raised concerns about disturbances to wildlife, traffic and light pollution in the town.
“This is a massive production and a hugely lucrative franchise – but obviously not everyone locally is pleased to see Disney moving in,” a source told The Sun.
“It might generate some jobs, but this is a pretty rural area which has always been quiet and peaceful – the thought of turning it into some sort of intergalactic war zone to make TV shows is horrifying.
“The set is massive, with great big buildings on it alongside loads of heavy duty machinery coming and going – it’s just totally out of keeping with the countryside vibe here and people are up in arms about it.”
Filming for the Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi series is due to start in March 2021.
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