<< News >> Peak quarry plans finally submitted
Submitted by PaulM on Sunday, 21 December 2003 Page Views: 6011
Site Watch Revised proposals have been submitted to the Peak District National Park Authority for the reopening of the controversial quarries at Stanton Lees near Matlock.Stancliffe Stone Ltd is seeking to commence work at the quarries, which have been dormant for several decades.
The National Park Authority has previously stated that it does not want the quarries to be reopened due to their proximity to Stanton Lees and the scheduled ancient monument on Stanton Moor.
However, the Authority will now examine the company's proposals and a consultation process will get underway.
The quarries were originally covered by a planning consent granted by the Government in 1952. They were classified as dormant under the Environment Act 1995, which meant that no further extraction could take place until new working conditions were determined by the Authority.
Stancliffe Stone Ltd submitted a proposal in 1999 accompanied by an Environmental Statement, but the Authority asked for further information to be submitted.
The new information - submitted on 12 December - should complete the Environmental Statement. The Authority will now consult interested parties on the proposal and will then determine a scheme of conditions for the operation of the quarry.
John Bull, Chair of the Authority's Planning Control Committee, said: "This is a very sensitive site and the proposal to reopen the quarries will be controversial. After several years of uncertainty we hope to move ahead and bring the matter to a conclusion by next April.
"However, people need to be aware that it is not within our power to refuse permission for the quarries to re-open – the site already has permission. The Authority's role will be to approve a set of modified conditions for working the site in an appropriate way."
Copies of the plans are being sent to consultees including Stanton-in-Peak Parish Council, and they are available for inspection at the National Park Authority's offices at Aldern House, Bakewell.
Interested parties will have around two months to lodge their comments, which should be made in writing to the Planning Service, Peak District National Park Authority, Aldern House, Baslow Road, Bakewell DE45 1AE.
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