Challenge to court quarry ruling

The Peak District National Park is to challenge a High Court ruling in an attempt to stop further quarrying at a site in Derbyshire.

The Peak Park, together with many other rural campaign groups, has long protested against quarrying at Longstone Edge near Bakewell.

Earlier this month the High Court heard an appeal from the quarrying company and "stop" notices were withdrawn.

The campaign groups have also written to the government about the issue.

'Grounds to appeal'

At a meeting on Friday the authority decided to appeal against Mr Justice Sullivan's recent High Corut ruling overturning a planning inspector's decision to uphold the authority's action after last year's public inquiry.

The peak authority deputy chairman Hilda Gaddum said: "Our aim all along has been to stop irreversible damage to the prominent landscape feature of Longstone Edge.

"This issue is at the top of the authority's priorities, and we firmly believe we have grounds to appeal."

Backdale quarry has not been used since early 2007.

Longstone Edge is a three-mile-long limestone hill situated within sight of Chatsworth House to the north of Bakewell in the Peak District National Park.