CONCERNED residents close to a Carnforth quarry will endure blasting for another 22 years after it was granted an extension to its current licence.

Following a three-year investigation, Holme Park quarry was given planning permission to continue blasting until 2043.

After complaints received by South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) concerning dust from the site, a dust monitoring programme was initiated over 14 months, which indicated that very little of the quarry's dust impacted locally.

Aggregate Industries, which operates the site, just off the M6, uses blasting techniques to mine aggregates for the construction industry across the north west.

Residents of the nearby hamlet of Clawthorpe voiced their opposition to the quarry during the application process.

Mr Winrow, a local resident, said: “Blasting occurrs five days a week, which affects my quality of life with my house physically shaking during blasting events.”

Mr Garner, a member of the quarry liaison committee said: “Increasing the size of the quarry shows no recognition for the impact of blasting on residents.

“Why is there a need to extend the quarry, given the size of the crushed rock reserves that the company already has?

“I do not want the extension to take place at the cost of residents' quality of life.”

Ms Owen, another resident, referred to the reduction in demand in the north west for crushed aggregate. She said: “It was the operator's greed that is driving the quarry to extend its licence. I want the current site to be put back as it was in six years’ time, as per the original planning permission.”

Geoff Storey, estates manager at Aggregate Industries, said: “We’re delighted that operations at Holme Park Quarry can continue until 2043.

"The site is vital to maintaining and improving local infrastructure, and this decision ensures this can continue for the next twenty years.

“The local area will also benefit from Aggregate Industries funding the future management of the national nature reserve at Holme Park Quarry and local nature reserve at Clawthorpe, as well as a flood-alleviation scheme on the A6070 outside the quarry entrance.

"Once the site has been restored post-2043, it will become a Cumbria Wildlife Trust nature reserve in its entirety.”

The licence was awarded by Cumbria County Council during the development control and regulations committee, with conditions of ‘no mineral extraction operations, or processing, loading and transportation of minerals or products shall take place within 300m of Clawthorpe, outside the hours 8am to 5pm weekdays.’

The company has more than 200 sites and around 3,700 dedicated employees, and produces aggregates, asphalt, ready-mixed concrete and precast concrete products.