Quarries

The West Pennine moors and Rivington are in danger, they need our help.  Proposals for Montcliffe and Pilkington quarry exist that mean that conditions in the area will deteriorate to an unacceptable degree for all those who enjoy this beautiful area.

This is not just a problem for Horwich as the effects of these proposals will be felt throughout the borough, as more that 600 HGV movements a day will be caused and the smell and noise will be apparent over a wide area.

Background   

Montcliffe Quarry

In 2005 a six year extension was awarded to allow the final reserves at the quarry to be worked.  Horwich Town council objected, one of the concerns being that a further extension to the workings would be requested. The applicant assured that no further time extension would be sought, and the application was accepted. The quarry is currently due to cease operating on the 21^st September 2011 with restoration being completed within 12 months. 

Recently Montcliffe quarry has been bought by the owners of the Armstrong site on the New Rd, and Bolton Councils Executive members have already approved in principal the extension of quarrying for a further 12 months with a conditional right for a further period of years as long as a provision is made to purchase the Horwich Loco Works.

During the last application the Greater Manchester Geological Unit raised concerns that any further extension of quarrying would lead to a deterioration of conditions in the area.

You might feel that an extension to quarrying for a few years really isn’t a problem.  Unfortunately plans have been discussed for the creation of a Waste Transfer and Recycling centre handling up to 1 million tonnes of mixed waste per year at Montcliffe quarry.  The 400 HGV movements a day would bring in a wide variety of waste including household and green waste. The smell and dust will be apparent anywhere down wind of the quarry.

Pilkington Quarry

This site has been the granted 3 separate planning applications over the last year. Two have been quashed in the courts, and the third is currently going through the judicial review process. We can not stress how vital it is that this permission is challenged and quashed.

Currently the quarry has permission to extract stone from the area to the south of the existing quarry and fill the current quarry void with waste. These activities will generate 240 HGV movements a day.  This development is inextricably linked to the Montcliffe quarry proposals as the owner has discussed the removal of the barrier between the 2 quarries (currently a public foot path). This would allow the proposed waste transfer and recycling centre easy access to the current quarry void so it would be able to fill it with waste. Once the new quarry is excavated it would no doubt be filled with waste as well.

It seems the proposed Loco works development is so important to the Councils Executive that they seem happy to risk this beautiful area of the West Pennine moors.  The creation of a Waste Transfer and Recycling centre in Montcliffe quarry, using Pilkington quarry as a land fill, the vast increase in HGV traffic, and the vast increase in general traffic from the 1600 houses  are issues that Bolton Council are quite comfortable with. No doubt they feel they will be more than adequately compensated by the council tax payments they will receive.

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