PLANS to quarry more land close to one of the area's most important ancient sites have been given the go-ahead by North Yorkshire councillors.
At a meeting in Masham this week they approved "downsized" plans by Tarmac to extend its operations near Thornborough Henges, north of Ripon, which have been described as the Stonehenge of the North
The county council's planning committee approv
ed extraction of sand and gravel on a site east of the existing Nosterfield Quarry at Ladybridge Farm – but only on condition that the company gives legal safeguards to protect the Iron Age site.
Last February, North Yorkshire County Council rejected an application to quarry a larger site after concerns were raised about the impact sand and gravel extraction would have on the archaeology of the area.
The revised plan sees the extraction area reduced from 45.7hectares to 30.9, the 'mineral yield' decreased from 2.2m tonnes to 1.1m tonnes and the area identified by English Heritage as being of archaeological interest omitted from the application.
English Heritage had no objection to the revised proposals, although campaign groups, including the Friends of Thornborough, remained opposed to any further quarrying activity in the area.
Speaking after the meeting, County Coun John Fletcher, chairman of the planning committee, said: "The planning committee's decision was unanimous and this reflects the high quality of discussion and debate the members were able to engage in determining this application."
The decision means existing jobs at the quarry will be safeguarded. Tarmac estates manager, Bob Nicholson, said: "We are delighted that county councillors have voted to approve the application and their decision will come as great relief to our workers, the hauliers and other people whose livelihoods rely upon the quarry.
"May I take this opportunity to reiterate that we are committed to the long-term protection and management of Thornborough Henges – a scheduled ancient monument.
"The Ladybridge site sees quarrying move further away from the henges than our current operation and there is no planning application for Thornborough Moor."
