Quarry plan approved despite years of HGV traffic

Planning permission has been granted for the excavation of a quarry despite objections from residents over prolonged use of HGV lorries to clear it.

The excavation of Nearcliff Quarry in Conisbrough, Doncaster, will see up to 40 HGV movements a day for the next eight years.

The work is hoped to clear more than a million tonnes of limestone from the site, with lorries arriving or leaving the quarry every 12-15 minutes, according to a Doncaster Council report.

The council said it believed that to be an "acceptable intensity" of traffic, but residents have also warned against dangerous nearby junctions and existing anti-social behaviour on the site.

Speaking at the planning committee, resident Joan Jackson raised concerns about potential dangers on the A630, which the vehicles would exit on to from the quarry.

She said: "It's a dreadful junction. It's so dangerous. There are so many aspects of road safety that need to be considered."

Jackson said there were also regular issues with anti-social behaviour at the quarry, with off-road bikers damaging surrounding woodland, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and stolen cars being driven onto the site and set alight.

She told the committee that security must be a priority, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"I know the police do an awful lot of work trying to contain anti-social behaviour. I know they do their best, but they can't be there all day, every day, " she said.

"Eight years to clear the quarry floor. How are we going to secure the site permanently?"

In response, applicant Chris Ballam said he recognised that people on motorbikes had in the past misused the site but added that planned excavation work was the best deterrent.

He said: "This will not stop until we remove the attraction. In short, the locality need this to be done."

The committee was told there would be 24/7 security with CCTV across the quarry and personnel on site.

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