National Park Authority agrees deadline extension on Stanton Moor quarries
Submitted by PaulM on Thursday, 27 October 2005 Page Views: 1950
Site Watch
The Peak District National Park Authority agreed on the basis that it needs the fullest environmental information on the long-unused sites, which are now an overgrown wildlife habitat, in order to make a sound decision on what modern working conditions would need to be imposed if the quarries were to be reactivated.
At the same time, Stancliffe Stone is preparing a possible planning application to extend its active Dale View quarry, nearby.
That application could include the offer to surrender its rights to reactivate Lees Cross and Endcliffe.
National Park Authority director of conservation and development John Lomas said: "This does not necessarily mean that we leave the determination of modern working conditions until next April. We will continue to press for resolution of the outstanding environmental information, and if that happens, we may want to consider an earlier date."
Source: Peak District National Park Authority, 21 October 2005
Meanwhile the PDNPA...
[is] to pursue top-level support over quarry dispute
The Peak District National Park Authority is to take its case for strengthening the law over quarrying in national parks to the highest government level.
The Authority, at its meeting on October 14, agreed to seek the backing of MPs, Defra, national parks minister Jim Knight, the Association of National Park Authorities, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and at the highest possible level for a review of shortcomings in current legislation.
Frustrated by the six-month postponement of a public inquiry over quarrying at Backdale, on Longstone Edge, the National Park Authority will also stress at the top level the consequences of such a delay on the landscape and environment.
The Authority faces major challenges over quarrying in the Peak District National Park which, with 70 active and inactive sites, has the highest number of quarries of any British national park. The industry contributes to the economy but inevitably has an adverse impact on the environment which national parks were set up to conserve and enhance.
National Park Authority chair Tony Hams said: "We need to be proactive on this, there is a national case for a re-examination of current legislation for planning control of mineral extraction, especially on issues which the 1995 Environment Act has left unclear. We need to raise these issues at the highest possible level, and that is what we fully intend to do."
The Authority's decision to press for stronger legal powers was among a series of actions it decided to take following the postponement of the Backdale case, but others were not made public on legal advice that it could prejudice the Authority's case.
The public inquiry started in mid-September, but to the deep concern of the Authority, it was immediately adjourned after the planning inspector decided it required more time. A new date could not be set until April 4 2006 due to the unavailability of the barrister representing the Backdale landowner, Bleaklow Industries.
It is the Authority's opinion that limestone is being extracted at Backdale beyond the scope of planning permission granted in 1952. This permission, which still has many years to run, allowed vein minerals to be extracted, with limestone only as a consequence of getting at those minerals.
The Authority issued an enforcement notice in November 2004, and the public inquiry was called to deal with the appeal against that notice by Bleaklow Industries and the quarry operator, MMC Ltd (a subsidiary of Merrimans, of Leicester).
The Authority has fought strong legal battles over quarrying in the past - its stance on the Lees Cross and Endcliffe quarries at Stanton Moor being officially dormant was upheld by the court of appeal in June.
Source: Peak District National Park Authority, 14 October 2005
We would like to know more about this location. Please feel free to add a brief description and any relevant information in your own language.
Wir möchten mehr über diese Stätte erfahren. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, eine kurze Beschreibung und relevante Informationen in Deutsch hinzuzufügen.
Nous aimerions en savoir encore un peu sur les lieux. S'il vous plaît n'hesitez pas à ajouter une courte description et tous les renseignements pertinents dans votre propre langue.
Quisieramos informarnos un poco más de las lugares. No dude en añadir una breve descripción y otros datos relevantes en su propio idioma.