Dust and fumes fears at planning row quarry
Durham County Council says it intends to issue a revised enforcement notice
- Published
Concerns have been raised over the effects of work at a quarry spoil heap where a planning application was refused.
People in the village of Hesleden, near Peterlee, have reported issues with noise, dust, fumes and large numbers of HGVs linked to the restoration of a nearby colliery spoil heap.
Durham County Council confirmed it is looking to issue an enforcement notice over work at the site.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service has attempted to contact the planning applicant for comment.
Objections were voiced in 2022 when B&S Recycling submitted plans to extend works in relation to the removal of 256,000 tonnes of combustible materials at the quarry.
That application was refused in September 2023, which campaigner Maureen Wells said led to “tears of joy” from residents.
An appeal against the refusal has been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.
'It's a nightmare'
Ms Wells, 71, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The traffic, the health issues, there’s the noise, the dust. It’s no quality of life.
"It needs to stop ASAP while all the enforcement and the appeals are going on and we need some support.
"We’ve been fighting it for the last three years. It’s a nightmare."
She has been lobbying MPs and local leaders in a bid to get their support.
Stephen Reed, Durham County Council’s planning development manager, said "after detailed consideration, the enforcement notice served in September has been withdrawn" but "we continue to closely monitor the site" and "intend to issue a revised enforcement notice".
In its application, B&S Recycling had sought to carry out a further nine years of operational excavation of limestone and sand, with a 12-month restoration scheme to follow.
A supporting statement outlined how the project had faced delays, including the discovery of more combustible material than anticipated.
It also said "a limestone cliff of high geological and ecological significance has been identified."
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