New haul road to Peak District quarry near Wirksworth approved
The proposed road would only be used for haulage operations and a one-metre high stone wall would be erected, with planted hedgerow along the route of an adjacent public bridleway, according to the council. "The creation of a new haul road would allow HGVs to continue to access the south-east extension area of the quarry safely for the purposes of the extraction of high-purity limestone," the spokesperson said. A spokesperson for the Derbyshire Dales District Council - which raised no objections to the development - said "due regard" should be given to the adjacent right of way.During a public consultation, one person raised concerns about potential dust, noise pollution, and the impact on the enjoyment of public rights of way. However, the council had to consider concerns that without the proposed haul road, a sufficient supply of minerals from the quarry could not be established for its expected lifetime.The authority said there was no clear viable alternative. The council's planning committee approved planning permission for the scheme during a meeting earlier in July, subject to conditions including dust monitoring, noise and usage time restrictions.
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