A Wall of objections to Chollerford quarry plan

Posted by The Journal on Jan 28, 09 10:03 AM in News

Fears have been voiced over plans to resume stone extraction operations at a disused quarry close to Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland.

Countryside guardians, dozens of local residents and parish councillors have objected to the bid to re-open the dormant Cocklaw Quarry near Chollerford, Hexham - which is just 515 metres from the Roman Wall world heritage site.

The proposed site of a quarry at Cocklaw, Hexham, is in the background

The proposed site of a quarry at Cocklaw, Chollerford, is in the background.

Tyne Roadstone Ltd wants to extract almost 600,000 tonnes of sandstone and limestone
from the site over 10 years, and build a new haul route linking the re-opened quarry to the B6318 Military Road.

The scheme - which is being recommended for approval by the county council planning committee next week - has sparked 75 letters of protest and a 21-name petition from local residents.

They are worried about the effects on Hadrian's Wall and its national trail, the principle of resuming quarrying operations and the impact of heavy lorries using the B6318.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England and Wall Parish Council say the application should be refused, Humshaugh Parish Council says it has 'grave concerns' and the North East Assembly says particular attention should be given to the scheme's potential impact on Hadrian's Wall.

Cocklaw Quarry, which lies about four miles north of Hexham, was first given planning permission in the 1940s but it was declared a dormant minerals site in 1995.

To re-open it, Tyne Roadstone needs to have modern working conditions approved and build the new haul road for HGVs. Yesterday Humshaugh parish councillor Dick Moules said: "We are certainly concerned about the safety issue with HGVS because the Military Road is already very dangerous.

"If these concerns can be mitigated then we are not against quarrying in principle, although some local people are."

Next week, officers will recommend members of the county planning and regulation committee to give the scheme the green light, subject to a number of conditions which include governing the quarrying and restoration operations.

A report says the re-opened quarry will not be visible from the Roman Wall and English Heritage is satisfied that the new access road and lorries using it will not have a significant adverse impact on the wall's 'outstanding universal value'.

A maximum of 20 lorries a day will leave the site and measures have been put in place to tackle concerns over noise, dust and traffic generated by the quarry.

The report concedes: "The proposal to recommence mineral extraction has given rise to strong local opposition on the grounds of the impact of these operations on the local community."

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