Opponents blast Heddle Quarry plans
(Story dated: Thursday, January 22, 2004)

Concerned Firth residents are working together in an attempt to halt a proposed extension to a nearby quarry.

Nearly 90 home owners, who all live near Heddle Quarry, in Finstown, have signed a letter to Orkney Islands Council opposing proposals to extend the site.

Orkney Aggregates, which operates the quarry, is looking to carry out work which would see it extended and blasting work carried out on the south side of the Heddle Hill.

They are also hoping to operate on Mondays to Fridays from 7.30am-5pm, Saturdays from 8am-12.30pm and in exceptional circumstances not later than 7pm from Mondays to Fridays and 4.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

This work can only go ahead if planning permission is granted by councillors at an OIC environment, planning and protective services meeting later this month.

The proposals have received a record number of objections for a planning application, although 16 letters have also been written in support of the proposals.

An OIC spokesman said more than 21 letters of objection had been forwarded to the council, along with a petition signed by 88 Finstown residents.

And the plans came under fire at a special public meting at the Firth Community Centre last Thursday evening, which attracted 40 Finstown residents.

The event was held to draw together concerns and views about the planning application.

Residents' main worries concerning the planning application were:

• the extension of the quarry;
• a proposed extension in operating hours;
• an increase in operating procedures.

As well as this, residents felt that extending the quarry could endanger wildlife, as large areas of rough grassland and heath habitats would be destroyed.

Councillors can either approve the plans, reject them, or defer the application until a later date. But a number of residents said they feared there was little chance of the application being denied – because the OIC are the main customers of the quarry.

They said they were all concerned about the proposals, which they felt would see an increased amount of traffic on Heddle Road.

Meanwhile, some house owners on the south side of the hill highlighted concerns that blasting work may affect their homes.

Mr Laurie Sparrow said: “I don't know about anyone else here, but when the blasting goes on my house certainly gets a good old thumping.”

Firth resident Simon Treasure agreed, claiming that workers could blast off too much of the hill, damaging foundations of houses that are based above the level of the quarry floor.

Mr Treasure felt the application should be deferred while investigations are carried out to see if any houses could be damaged by the work.

“What will happen if they simply blow off too much of the hill? Are they just going to say ‘sorry we didn't mean to destroy your house'?” he asked.

Mr John Amos is also concerned about proposed extra blasting operations, as past work has affected his property.

“It's knocked pieces off our wall and it's stopped our computer running. I'm here to say ‘no' to extending the quarry,” he said.

Mr Malcolm Marwick, of Benbeoch, Heddle Road, said increased traffic levels concerned him in particular, as he had witnessed lorries skidding out of control in poor conditions.

Mr Amos said he would be happy to keep the situation the way it is, providing no operational work is carried out at weekends.

A spokesman for Orkney Aggregates said the quarry has never been operational on Saturday mornings without consent. In response to concerns over blasting, he added: “Blasting is governed, as you would expect, by strict guidelines and these are rigidly adhered to.”