Plans to fill in Farley Quarry quarry set for approval

Farley Quarry near Much Wenlock lies in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Proposals to send 100 lorries a day to fill a quarry have been recommended for approval despite objections from community groups.

About 150,000 tonnes of waste would be dumped at Farley Quarry near Much Wenlock, in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Councillors have raised concerns about noise, dust and impact on the AONB.

The application will be discussed on 14 November.

A previous application to fill the quarry and level the ground for potential future commercial or leisure development was refused last January.

Planning officers said approval should be granted as the scheme will lead to ecological enhancements and reconnect severed public walking routes.

The plans relate to the central and southern parts of the quarry owned by applicant Jim Cannon.

Waste materials from construction, demolition and excavations would be brought on to the site each year to be recycled for 12 years.

After this process, about a third of the material will remain, which will be used to fill the quarry void in three phases, planning officer Grahame French said.

Eventually it would be topped with soil to leave a gently sloping landform "suitable for amenity and agricultural use", Mr French said. At this point the recycling operation on the site would cease.

Objections to the proposal were received from Much Wenlock Town Council and neighbours Buildwas Parish Council and Leighton and Eaton Constantine Parish Council.

The town council said: "The overriding concern with this development is the increased number of heavy vehicle movements that will be generated by the proposed activities at the quarry, throughout the day, and the impact these vehicles will have on the existing users of the road and residents along the A4169."