Quarry continuance confirmed

10:59am Wednesday 3rd December 2008

DIRT deposited on the A6 by lorries using Shap Blue Quarry was identified as a problem in a review of its operations.

Cumbria County Council development control committee has granted permission for the continued use of Shap Blue Quarry for 15 years, but imposed conditions to solve the issue.

The operation of the quarry, which falls either side of the A6, is subject to periodical reviews.

The Eastern portion of the application to continue mining at the site falls within the jurisdiction of Cumbria County Council, while land on the western side of the road is within the Lake District National Park (LDNPA), and subject to a separate planning body.

The separation of the main quarry from the processing and production plant means lorries ferrying between leave dirt and dust on A6. A condition of the new permission is that a wheel wash will be installed on the East side of the A6 to prevent such materials being transferred to the highway.

The LDNPA is due to grant continued use mining of the western side of the quarry this month. It is anticipated that the authority will impose similar wheel wash provisions.