Outcry over plans to reopen quarry at beauty spot

Plans to extend the life of a dormant quarry in an official area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) have caused an outcry.

Tarmac Trading Ltd is seeking to use Burley Hill Quarry at Eryrys, Denbighshire, for another 15 years, with the site originally given planning permission between 1950 and 2021.

It has prompted opposition from neighbouring councils, walking groups and residents amid concerns about noise, traffic and damage to the environment and tourism in an area known as the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB.

Planning officers have said if the quarry was refused permission, "reserves would remain unworked, and the minerals would be required to be acquired elsewhere".

A decision on Tarmac Trading Ltd's plans to continue extracting 3.8m tonnes of limestone is due to be discussed on Wednesday after the debate was delayed twice by Denbighshire council's planning committee to allow further public consultation.

Planning officers are recommending the committee grants the application permission.

Opponents include the community councils of Llanferres, Llanarmon-yn-Ial and Nercwys as well as Mold Town Council, the AONB's joint advisory committee and Ramblers Cymru, while a local petition has collected in excess of 400 names.

Members of the Senedd have also raised concerns, including Sam Rowland, Carolyn Thomas, Darren Millar, Llyr Gruffydd, Hannah Blythyn, and Mark Isherwood.

"The quarry closed 20 years ago, and there has been a lot of change in the area since then with many new businesses, many of which rely on tourism to thrive," said Millar, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd who also represents Clwyd West.

In a letter to the planning authority, the AONB said "reopening the quarry and extending its life for a further 15 years will have a significant adverse impact on local tranquillity through an increase in noise, heavy traffic, and a general increase in activity and disturbance associated with quarrying operations".

But a 140-page planning report said there was "a demonstrable need for the mineral which would outweigh any temporary harm to the tranquillity of the AONB, which can be mitigated".

"Whilst it is considered that there would be an impact on tranquillity, it would not undermine the natural beauty of the AONB, given the limited time and frequency of the proposed campaign events," it said.

It added the proposed operations would be at a "lesser intensity with a reduced output level compared to that of when the site was operational pre-2005".