Westminster Quarry Debate

On 24th October a group of local residents travelled to Parliament to attend an Adjournment Debate where Patrick McLoughlin MP for West Derbyshire presented the case for stopping quarrying at Backdale and Wagers Flat (by Bleaklow Industries) on Longstone Edge. He also asked the Government to recognise the problem as a national issue and not merely a local concern.

Barry Gardiner, Under-Secretary of State for DEFRA in his response stated that the present situation is clearly unsatisfactory. He acknowledged the wide ramifications of the issue of quarrying in the national parks The Government is trying to introduce regulations which will better control how quarrying is carried out in the Peak District National Parks.

At the present time there is no legal requirement that this particular quarry company should reinstate the area when the extraction of minerals is completed. They may just walk away and leave a large scar on Longstone Edge, which will be a blot on the landscape for decades.

At our AGM held on 17th November our guest speaker, Mr. Jim Dixon Chief Executive Officer of the Peak District National Park Authority, said that quarrying on Longstone Edge is their greatest problem and of top priority. He remarked that if he had a magic wand he would stop the quarrying but he has to work within the existing Town and Country planning laws of the UK and that these are limited to a degree.

Let us hope that this high profile campaign helps to stir the Government into positive action and gives Jim Dixon the powers he needs.

Tony Byrne  Save Longstone Edge website