Company submits new detail on controversial Gorticross quarry

AS Ballantine Ltd.’s agent Six West Ltd. has submitted a new noise impact assessment in a bid to secure permission for an extension of the quarry on the Gortree Road.

According to the new assessment the quarry will be extended to the east of the existing site “with the addition of a new mobile jaw crushers, new mobile cone crusher and a new mobile screener.”

The assessment continues: “The site has a number of properties to the north west of the site located on the Gortree Road.

“The proposed extension is to move away from these properties, with a minimum distance of 190 metres at the closest point to the existing quarry face.”

The firm and its agents insist that its plans meet all noise impact requirements and will not impinge on local residents. But residents have reservations about the plans. Thirteen objections have been submitted over the past three years; three of them this year.

For example, in March, Lee Kennedy, on behalf of the Gortree Concerned Residents, objected on a number of grounds, including health and safety.

He said: “This quarry will be operating within 100 metres of existing residential properties and blasting once eight weeks.

“Residents have genuine concerns in relation to safety and EH have raised concerns in relation to noise, vibration and dust.

“Theses are issues that Health and Safety Executive (HSE) should be addressing together with internal operation of the quarry for workers safety.

“We fail to understand how orientating the working face 90 degrees in a northerly direction would be an advantage to residential amenity or personal safety. HSE should look comprehensively to the overall workings of this quarry not just the design of benches and quarry faces.”

At the end of June a Mr John Caldwell also objected on a number of grounds.

One of his complaints was that: “There is no mention of how blasting operations would be controlled or monitored.”

He also wrote: “This is a tranquil and peaceful rural location with lots of wildlife and this development would certainly put and end to that.”

Mr Kennedy once again submitted an updated complaint on behalf of the local residents in June.

The amended application has now been submitted with the planning office.

AS Ballantine is a local firm that was originally formed in 1953. The firms says the superior product which it’s been quarrying, supplying and delivering over the years has contributed to the progress which we see all around us. It is a permanent part of the roads, homes and utilities which make life today more convenient and comfortable, the firm says. Founded by the late AS Ballantine its managing director is Wesley Ballantine.