Campaign launched against 'devastating' quarry plan

The new quarry would be located to the north of the existing one at Pury End

A campaign has been launched against a plan for a quarry which some local people have branded as "devastating".

The limestone quarry would be set up alongside the existing quarry at Pury End, near Towcester in Northamptonshire.

The owners say it would help to meet the "significant need for the continued supply of high-quality building stone in Northamptonshire".

Opponents argue it would create air pollution, noise and extra traffic.

The developers, Heritage Quarry Group Limited (HQGL), say the proposed site is on land to the north of the existing Pury End Quarry, which is "largely exhausted of mineral and entering restoration stage".

They say 1,576,000 tonnes of limestone would be extracted from the site, including about 50,000 tonnes of Pury stone which is "in demand locally".

HQGL has calculated there would be up to 110 lorry movements in or out of the new quarry each day, and the site would be operational between 07:00 and 17:00 on weekdays and 08:00 to 13:00 on Saturdays.

An aerial shot of the existing quarry showing a field to the right where the new quarry would be located

An action group has been set up to stop the quarry going ahead, with Facebook and online fundraising pages.

One of its members, Rebecca de Courcy-Ireland, has lived in a farmhouse 300m (328yds) from the proposed site all her life.

"This is not an extension of the existing quarry," she said.

"It's a much bigger affair with massive disruption. I don't think anybody realises how huge it's going to be."

The site is close to the A5 and A43, and Ms de Courcy-Ireland believes 110 lorry movements a day will have an impact on those roads.

"Already, the traffic is dreadful, and I don't know how they can even contemplate this happening," she said.

Campaigners are also concerned about air pollution and the impact on nature and wildlife.

Stephen Woods, from HQGL, said: "The proposed development was allocated in the Northamptonshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan (adopted 2017) as a site suitable for the provision of crushed rock to enable a planned supply of aggregates over the plan period.

"The full planning application was supported by an environmental statement and the proposed development subject to environmental impact assessment, which includes measures to mitigate against any negative impacts of the proposed development."

West Northamptonshire Council's consultation on the planning application ends on 28 March, with a decision expected by the end of April.