Residents object to proposals for Denbigh quarry

Proposals have been submitted with the authority for Graig Quarry, in Denbigh.

These plans, which look to extend the quarry by five hectares, are a consolidating application for the extension of winning and working of limestone, the importation of inert waste and the restoration to amenity land.

The application has been submitted by quarry owners Breedon Southern Ltd and in a planning statement prepared by Playdell Smithyman, of Ironbridge, it says the existing site comprises 28.3 hectares, with the proposed extension area covering approximately 5 hectares.

The planning statement added: "To the north, west and south the contiguous land is rural, predominantly agricultural fields and woodland comprising pasture and a mix of ancient and more recent woodland.

"Craig Mawr Wood to the north of the proposed extension site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and another SSSI (Graig Quarry) is situated 150m to the southeast of the proposed extension area.

"Part of the woodland within the consented site, outside the extraction area and to the south of the existing site, is the subject of a Tree Preservation Order."

The statement continued: "The proposed extension area consists of agricultural fields in use for pasture, to the west of the existing working area but also within the administrative area of Denbigh Town Council and to the south of the Crest Mawr woodland.

"The surrounding area comprises pasture and arable fields."

It added: "The closest residential dwellings to the proposed extension are located at the northern end of Bryn Seion approximately 250m to the south of the application boundary.

"The amenity of these and other local properties would be safeguarded through mitigation measures including standoff areas and the use of temporary landscape screening landforms within the application boundary i.e. working operations are more than 250m from the edge of these properties.

"There is one public footpath within the application site boundary... which helps to connect Denbigh to the northern rural area."

Graig Quarry, Graig Road, Denbigh. Image taken from Google Maps.

It is intended that mineral extraction will be able to continue for the next quarter-of-a-century.

"The extension area will release approximately 4.4 million tonnes of saleable mineral giving an overall life of mineral extraction of 25 years," said the planning statement.

"To allow for market fluctuations and the completion of restorations an end date of 31st December 2047 is requested."

A public exhibition was held on the matter at Denbigh Rugby Club in December 2019, with a second public engagement event last September.

In her response to the application, Yvonne Lloyd, of Save our Green Spaces, said: "I strongly object to the extension on many grounds, the damage it will do to the wildlife, bats red kite rooks to name a few."

She added: "Many people walk those fields  and have done for many years and during lockdown it was proven for our mental health how important our green spaces are."

She also wrote to Denbigh Town Council referencing the proposals.

In her letter, she wrote: "I am writing on behalf of a large community group called “Save our Green Spaces - SOGS”, with no political affiliation, that constituted itself for the purpose of protecting access to nature in Denbigh.

"We believe the Town Council should be extremely concerned about the effects of this proposed extension on the population of Denbigh, and we are asking you to submit a letter to the Planning Committee opposing the proposed plan.

"We believe that the proposed development is in breech of the “Well-being Future Generations Act 2015” Chapter 2, as it would fail to improve the  'economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of its area by contributing to the achievement of the well-being goals'."

READ: Denbigh Quarry work gets extension amid residential fears

In all, Denbighshire County Council has so far received 19 public responses as part of the consultation.

Denbigh Town Council has not yet commented on the application.

Denbigh resident Sadie Rhea Williams responded: "I am in opposition of this plan due to being a resident of Bryn Seion and being directly impacted by the noise, the air quality, re-routing of the public path and the impact to my natural environment.

"I am aware that there are many policies that have been written and signed by the local government to protect people such as myself from this very thing happening.

"I live in an area where we are struggling financially and mentally and with the strain of more pressure of disruption, noise and health risks directly affecting my well being and that of those around me again I object to this plan and stand with my community and group of others named Save Our Green Spaces to ask the committee to object to this plan also."

People are invited to send over their comments on the matter by August 8 and a decision on the application is due by August 16.