Superquarry consultation to close

About six million tonnes of rock are extracted each year

Public consultation is about to end on plans to extend Europe's biggest coastal superquarry.

Glensanda quarry on the remote Morvern peninsula in the west Highlands employs about 200 people and brings millions of pounds into the local economy.

Foster Yeoman, the company which runs the granite quarry, wants to extend operations from 125 hectares to 206.

But some of its neighbours said the expansion would mean a continuing blot on the landscape.

The quarry takes six million tonnes of rock from the hills each year and grinds it down, before moving it through a series of conveyors, ready to ship out by sea.

We're very conscious of the lovely scenery that we're working within and the whole quarry has been designed to minimise the impact Hugh Lucas Foster Yeoman

The rock has been used for roads, runways and the Channel Tunnel.

The original plan envisaged the massive crusher and conveyors disappearing from the skyline as the quarry dug deeper.

But that will be postponed if the company gets permission to dig out another 65% of the hillside.

Double reserves

Foster Yeoman said the market was there but some residents from nearby Lochaline insist that the company does not need the extra production.

They said it would mean some of the quarry workings would be visible for more years than anticipated.

Hugh Lucas, Foster Yeoman's land and planning manager, said the surface area would increase by about 65% and more than double reserves.

"It would be a very efficient way of working long-term at this quarry," he said.

"We're very conscious of the lovely scenery that we're working within and the whole quarry has been designed to minimise the impact.

It means an enormous amount of surface damage right across the top of the hills above Glensanda Douglas Watt Local resident

"Although it can be seen from a long distance, the quarry is being progressively restored and very rapidly blending back into the hillside - we're very proud of the environmental performance we have here."

But critics have hit out at the project.

Retired doctor Douglas Watt, who has lived in the area for eight years, said there was no need to extend the quarry.

He said: "It has current reserves of 400 million tonnes, which provide employment at the present rate of operation for 40 to 50 years.

"The increase in reserves would ensure its availability for 100 years, but who knows what's going to be required after 50 years' time?

"It means an enormous amount of surface damage right across the top of the hills above Glensanda.

"The present quarry is basically in a hole in the middle of the hills and this extension would carry it horizontally at hill-top level."

Friday has been earmarked as the last day for the public to put their views forward.