Quarry expansion plan met with 60 objections

The proposed expansion of a quarry has been met with 60 objections, amid claims from a parish council and local residents that the firm running it had ignored complaints about dust and noise.

Operator Tarmac has applied to North Yorkshire Council to change planning permission for its Wensley Quarry, near Preston-under-Scar.

The company said it wanted permission to keep extracting minerals from one area of the plant while also starting other phases earlier than planned and extending the year it would finish working the quarry from 2042 to 2053.

In its objection, Preston-under-Scar Parish Council said Tarmac had a "documented history of ignoring and denying legitimate complaints from residents".

The firm had also "consistently failed to take effective remedial action", the parish council said.

In its objection to Tarmac's application, the council claimed the company had failed to abide by its dust and noise management plan, meanwhile the proposed expansion would see work take place less than 980ft (300m) from nearby houses.

The parish council added that Tarmac's claim there had been no complaints about dust in the nine years a dust management plan had been in place was "manifestly untrue".

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the parish council stated in its objection that there had been 22 documented dust complaints regarding the quarry between 2018-22 and no improvements had been made.

Also lodging an objection, North Yorkshire Conservative councillor Karin Sedgewick said she was concerned dust from the quarry was affecting the village's air quality.

"The distance from the proposed quarrying will be far too near the village," she said.

"I do not think this continuation of quarrying should be allowed."

In its application, Tarmac said that due to "unforeseen challenges" there were only two years of accessible mineral remaining in the current permitted areas of phase two, three and part of four quarrying, which were due to be worked up until 2030.

Supporting documents also stated that Wensley Quarry was of regional importance due to its long-term supply of carboniferous limestone.

Tarmac said in its submission: "The site is in a sustainable location to serve mineral and waste needs.

"Although adverse impact is anticipated to two visual receptors, these impacts are temporary in nature, with beneficial impacts arising at these locations post-restoration."

Tarmac argued there would be no other adverse impacts with regard to noise, dust, transport or the water environment.

A decision on the application by North Yorkshire Council is expected at a date yet to be decided.

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