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Quarry firm bids for ten year extension

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By Fiona Reid
Dumfries and West
Quarry firm bids for ten year extension

A DECISION on an extension to the quarry in Locharbriggs will be decided next week.

Hoddam Contracting Co have applied to extract sand and gravel from a seven hectare area within the Kilblane site for another decade.

They estimate removing approximately a million tonnes over ten years, and also want to build a new concrete batching plant to replace the existing ageing infrastructure on site.

Consultation has taken place with nearby communities and the proposal has the backing of Kirkmahoe Community Council.

In a statement, they said: “Pleased that our meeting with Hoddam appears to have resulted in the revision of the proposals to mitigate our concerns and look forward to working with the company to ensure that good relationships are maintained.

“Kirkmahoe Community Council will raise no objections to the proposed extension to the westwards extension to Kilblane Quarry, providing that the highlighted issues are resolved as agreed.”

They want to see all lorries sheeted upon leaving the site and more robust enforcement of this; sight lines and visibility at the Kirkton junction; and cessation of extraction activities during times of funerals at St Blane’s cemetery.”

Planning officials are recommending the extension is removed, with conditions that working hours continue to be 7 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday and 7 am to 1 pm on Saturday and exemptions around blasting operations.

Case officer Chris McTeir said: “The extraction and processing of minerals from the application site, and export to the market, shall be discontinued by a date no later than ten years from the date of this planning permission. Thereafter all plant and machinery shall be removed and the site restored in full accordance with the scheme of restoration, within 12 months of the completion of the mineral extraction or the cessation of operations at the site or ten years from the date of this planning permission, whichever is the sooner, unless a further planning application for mineral extraction for a further period.”

The application will go before the planning committee in Dumfries on Tuesday morning.

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