Bid to stop 'unlawful' quarrying

The authority said the notices would help it resolve the dispute

New enforcement and stop notices have been issued against the owners and operators of a controversial limestone quarry in Derbyshire.

The Peak District National Park Authority said this showed it intended to stop unlawful quarrying resuming at Backdale Quarry, near Bakewell.

The row over the quarry involves a 1952 planning consent over how much limestone can be extracted.

The authority said the notices will let it pursue a resolution to the dispute.

Planning inquiry

The notices came into effect against operator MMC Mineral Processing Ltd and landowners Bleaklow Industries Ltd on Tuesday 9 May.

The National Park authority served an initial enforcement notice in November 2004, MMC Ltd appealed and a planning inquiry was set up to resolve the issue.

But in March 2006, the public inquiry was cancelled after Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott declared the authority's action "null and void".

Following this, another temporary stop notice, which has just run out, was imposed at the site and the new enforcement and stop notices will stay in place as measures are taken to resolve issues surrounding the quarry.

Peak District National Park Authority Chair of Planning, Narendra Bajaria, said: "The new enforcement and stop notices signal our commitment to continue to do everything in our power to protect Longstone Edge.

"Over recent months there has been virtually no new quarrying activity in the disputed areas of Backdale."

The authority said that between 2003 and December 2005, 573,963 tonnes of limestone were sold from Backdale.

Quarry operators MMC Mineral Processing Ltd have declined to comment on the issue.