Thousands of tonnes of materials will be extracted from a quarry over the next 18 years, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
Tarmac applied to Durham County Council for permission for the continued working of the established site at Old Quarrington.
The approved proposal detailed plans to excavate Permian Magnesian Limestone and Permian Basal Sand reserves.
Several inert materials will also be imported to enable the restoration of Old Quarrington and Cold Knuckles Quarry by 2044.
The council’s planning department said the scheme would not have significant environmental effects despite concerns.
A total of seven public objections were received, raising concerns about access and traffic, biodiversity, blasting, climate change and CO2, dust, landfill of inert waste, noise and public rights of way.
Tarmac said a number of conditions had been put in place to address residents’ concerns.
Gary Hutchinson, Independent ward member for Brandon and Coxhoe, said residents had raised several “ongoing and unresolved issues” with the application including the impact on nearby properties.
He told a planning committee: “Residents report being regularly affected by the airborne dust, particularly during the summer months and in windy conditions. Residents are not seeking to prevent this development; they are seeking reassurances that the planning policies have been applied.”
Jan Blakey, also an Independent ward member, warned of the “vast” issues affecting residents. She added: “I have represented this area for over 18 years and I am yet to find where we can solve some of these issues. We are not against it but it’s the material impact on our communities.”
Tarmac said an estimated 921,000 tonnes of saleable minerals would be extracted per year.
Richard Barradell, strategic planning manager for Tarmac, said: “This is not a proposal for a new quarry. The site has been operational for decades and already benefits from long-established mineral permissions.
“The quarry provides high-quality limestone and sand to local construction projects and directly employs eight people. This is a well-designed, environmentally responsible, policy-compliant proposal.”
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
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