Agenda item

It was noted that some Members had visited the site on the previous day.

 

The Senior Minerals Planner presented the report and amended the recommendation relating to blasting control by deleting the following statement ‘which shall not exceed one blast every two weeks’.  This was so that the applicant would not be constrained by being unable to blast at the time that they needed to.

 

The recommendation for approval, subject to a S106 agreement and conditions as set out in the report and as amended, was moved and seconded.

 

In response to Members’ queries the Senior Minerals Planner stated that noise of equipment from Deepdale was covered in the noise control section of the conditions and that future public access to the site was being investigated in conjunction with the Rights of Way Officer.

 

The motion for approval was voted on and carried.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the application be APPROVED subject to:

 

1.  A Section 106 Legal Agreement entered into by the applicant and land owners to include Planning Obligations to cover [Recommended Heads of Terms]:

 

A.  Continued operation of the quarry and associated development under the

terms of the new permission from the date of that permission;

 

B.  Establishment of a Liaison Committee with a formal constitution (to include

Aggregate Industries, High Peak Borough Council EHO and representatives

of the Parish Meeting.

 

C.  Off-site monitoring of water flows and quality in the River Wye, springs

feeding baseflow into the Wye, and springs in Deep Dale; and a map of

springs discharging into the Wye close to the quarry boundary and upstream.

 

D.  The relinquishment / revocation (without compensation) of all extant  planning permissions for the site, including the mineral planning permissions Code Nos: /HPK/1093/127 and NP/CHA/866/6, the current asphalt plant permission (NP/HPK/0313/0226) and all other ancillary development permissions.

 

2.  Planning Conditions to cover [Recommended Heads of Terms for Conditions]:

 

Parameters: Definition of the site, scope of permission, approved details (plans, documents, environmental reports); keep approved details in site office; public information sign for nuisance/complaints.

 

Timescales: Date of commencement to be the date of decision notice; duration

of permission to cease 31 December 2025 for mineral extraction; 30 June 2026

for final landform creation; 31 December 2026 for restoration completion (quarry and Deep Dale); advance timing of removal of Deep Dale tip if opportunity arises; ultimate removal of built/ancillary development by 31 December 2026 (excluding plant/machinery for aftercare and land, woodland, lake and habitat management; notification dates for key stages of the development.

 

Approved working times: For drilling, blasting, mineral working, processing,

vehicle movements per the times in this report under ‘Times of Operation’ and

‘Blasting Times’.

 

Ancillary development: Remove permitted development rights for buildings,

structures, fixed plant and machinery; colour(s) of ancillary development

including the asphalt plant; parking of plant and vehicles; ultimate clearance

when no longer required.

 

Approved access: existing access to the A6 only; maintenance of access hard

surface, access gate/barrier, access drainage, adequate parking and

manoeuvring areas; sheeting HGV’s; highway cleanliness (keep free of mud,

stone, contaminants and surface water run-off from the site, wheel, carriageside, underside wash if necessary).

 

Working Scheme: scheme of operations as submitted; no new temporary or

permanent tipping above original ground other than to approved restoration

landform; backfilling of all overburden, interburden and mineral rejected at the

point of excavation; detailed methodology for excavating Deep Dale tip.

 

Mineral extraction: quarrying depth to be restricted to 225mAOD; quantity of

extraction from the quarry to be a maximum 250,000 tonnes per annum.

 

Waste materials control: all new waste tips to be contained within the quarry

excavations, except for the approved redistribution of Deep Dale tip materials for the restoration of Deep Dale; no mineral wastes to be removed from the site

unless contaminated and inappropriate for use for site restoration; all retained

mineral wastes to be used for quarry infilling, for containment cell construction

and stabilisation of lagoon materials transferred from the Deep Dale tip,

restoration and landscaping.

 

Transportation: Limit on exportation from the site of 250,000 tonnes per annum

except where, in the event that that a higher level of output may be deemed

necessary for market reasons over certain time periods, such specified higher

limit as may be approved in consultation with the Local Highway Authority upon submission of a Transport Statement demonstrating likely traffic impact on the local highway network; continued monitoring of HGV arrival and departure movements and provision of records on request.

 

Resource Monitoring: Monthly monitoring and annual returns of excavated

limestone; waste stone / materials deposited; and production levels (dry

aggregate and asphalt coated stone) (confidential basis).

 

Noise control: Noise control and suppression measures, during quarrying

backfilling, soil stripping, Deep Dale tip removal, materials translocation and

restoration; noise limits for normal and temporary operations, at noise sensitive properties; noise monitoring in response to justifiable complaint; reversing alarms to be non-audible, ambient related or low tone devices.

 

Dust prevention and control: A dust action plan: best practicable means;

assessment for dust suppression at the start of each working day and when

conditions are dry or windy; quarry visual monitoring during drilling, blasting,

quarrying, tipping, processing, materials storage, on-site trafficking, loading and movement of road lorries, Deep Dale visual monitoring during soil stripping and handling, tip removal, materials transfer, tipping, regrading and restoration; if visible emissions of airborne dust migrate outside site boundary, the activity responsible to be suspended or undertaken elsewhere until prevailing meteorological conditions permit or remedial action is initiated to reduce the emission; log book to be kept on site of any dust complaints and action taken to control the dust; speed limits on haul routes, regularly graded; minimise areas exposed to wind erosion; use road sweeper and water bowser; suitable dust arrestment and extraction equipment and filters compliant with manufacturer’s recommendations; cessation of operations in event of dust nuisance exceeding a ‘nuisance threshold’.

 

Smoke and Fumes Control: no burning of rubbish or wastes.

 

Highway cleanliness: Provision for vehicle washing facilities if necessary.

 

Storage of rubbish and scrap: All rubbish, debris, disused machinery, scrap and other waste materials generated on the site (other than mineral waste and Deep Dale tip content waste) to be regularly collected and stored in a tidy manner in an agreed location, pending removal for disposal; at the request of the MPA the contained location shall be screened by a low level earth bund.

 

Blasting control: A blasting programme (future rate of blasting) including the

predicted frequency of blasts; a scheme of blasting principles: compliance with consultants recommendations, minimising frequency, good design and initiation methods, adaption of charge weights to local circumstances, use of electronic detonators in particular in the western half of the quarry, response to prevalent weather, measures to minimise ground vibration, flyrock and air overpressure, and prohibition of secondary blasting (except in emergencies); a blasting method statement; measures to minimise air overpressure (initiation technique, control at source and magnitude at distance); ground vibration at occupied residential /vibration sensitive buildings not to exceed 6mms-1 ppv in resultant vector (95% confidence level measured over any six months period) nor a maximum of 10 mm/s-1; blasting times, advance notification of blasting events to the MPA, EHO and residents; signage on footpath routes to warn users of blasting times; sentries when blasting is imminent at closest approach to footpaths; equipment calibration and blast monitoring at sensitive properties (including Green Farm and the Cottages at King Sterndale); monitoring ground vibration / air overpressure in the event of complaint.

 

Site lighting control: No additional floodlighting / floodlighting towers unless

approved.

 

Stone storage and stockpiles: Primary processed stone in quarry, asphalt

production stone in existing bays in Plant Area, no higher than 2m).

 

Dewatering control and protection of water dependent features: Environment

Agency and Natural England requirements; restrict dewatering to 225mAOD;

approved water environment monitoring (rainfall, groundwater levels, dewatering and Deep Dale flow monitoring), mitigation proposals and Hydrogeological Impact Assessment; cessation of pumping in the event of incident deleterious to the water environment.

 

Drainage and water pollution control: Environment Agency requirements;

surface water drainage containment and management strategy; no discharge of contaminated drainage into ground, ground water or surface water; storage and containment of potential contaminants (oils, fuels, chemicals); vehicles, mobile plant and machinery maintenance only in an impermeable and bunded

designated area; regular removal from the site of waste oils, lubricants,

chemicals in suitable containers; maintenance of oil absorbent booms in

settlement lagoons to hold and treat water prior to discharge.

 

Contamination control (Deep Dale Tip removal): Environment Agency

requirements; remediation strategy for contamination risks, further risk

assessment, site investigation, trial pitting, further assessment of risk to

potential receptors (including off-site), options appraisal, verification plan,

monitoring / watching brief, geotextile membranes on soft ground, remediation, maintenance, arrangements for contingency action; all water run-off to drain into sump; contain all pollutants / tip drainage away from the stream.

 

Protection of speleological and geological interests: The MPA to be notified of

any natural cave systems or other karst features encountered of special

speleological interest; access to survey and record those features; recording

features of geological interest below 240mAOD, by a qualified geologist, prior to final cessation of dewatering; records to be made available to the MPA and

British Geological Survey.

 

Protection of ecological interests: nature conservation and protected species;

control of vegetation disturbance during bird breeding / nesting season (March

to August); re-survey prior to new disturbance; replacement bird nest boxes;

control of ongoing quarrying/disturbance to cliff faces and provision of retained faces for nesting.

 

Protection of trees / vegetation: demark affected trees; protect retained trees/

shrubs.

 

Soils strategy (conservation and protection): Quantification of

accessible/available ‘soil resource’, in interim storage mounds and/or

concentrated or dispersed within previously tipped material; vegetation

clearance of any soils to be stripped; soil handling, stripping, storage and

placement methodology; separate recovery and storage of soils and soil forming materials; prevention of compaction and trafficking over soils in store; areas where soils are to be used (with details of volume, depth and treatment); testing of soils for nutrient and pH status and free from contamination.

 

Restoration and landscaping schemes: phased submissions (restoration

drainage, landscaping proposals) for approval; infilling materials only as derived from the site in quantities for correct contours; monitoring approved restoration levels, tipping, stabilisation and regrading in the quarry and Deep Dale; quarry bench treatment; drainage; pre-soiling treatments control; treatment and appearance of final excavation and infill surface; no importation of soils and soil ameliorants without prior approval; selective, sequential replacement and use soils and soil-making materials; use only of local provenance native species in any seeding and planting schemes (if possible subject to licence, grasses seed to be collected within Deep Dale SSSI); planting mix (to include willow only in association with the lake, sycamore in selected areas, and ash should disease resistant strain(s) become available); natural regeneration preferred method of grassland, shrub and aquatic vegetation establishment; no planting of aquatic and marginal zones; hydroseeding control; woodland planting in the north-east corner of the quarry to extend to the lake margin; planting maintenance.

 

Restoration drainage: controlled restoration water level to reflect natural levels; approval and implementation of a scheme for reinstating the Deep Dale Stream to open watercourse, with flood flow capacity (1 in 100 years), climate change design, and biodiversity; and of a long-term surface water management strategy.

 

Biodiversity and habitat creation, establishment and management schemes:

Approval of a detailed Biodiversity Management Plan; approval and

implementation of detailed phased adaptive habitat management / establishment proposals for the site (quarry, works site and Deep Dale); to include restoration biodiversity distribution/mosaic plans relative to restoration topography, site (including substrate) ground preparation, interventional techniques; sowing rates, no seeding in natural succession areas, control of invasive species, grazing management, cutting regime, no use of organic mulches, and maintenance of bare ground habitat; monitoring; management for a period of 6 years; records of habitat management to be kept.

 

Post-restoration aftercare scheme: Within a 5 year aftercare period; timing of

aftercare commencement; aftercare records to be submitted in an Aftercare

Report between 31 March and 31 May each year; aftercare meetings between

May and August each year.

 

Maintenance of landscaping schemes/woodland management: For a period of 6 years from planting / seeding or throughout the approved working life of the site, whichever is the later date; records of landscaping management to be kept; maintenance of asphalt plant screen planting whilst the plant is on site.

 

Recreational Access Provision: Agreement on size, text, layout and locations of site information boards and publicity brochure for the temporary stopping-up of footpath 37, to include a map of the stopped up section and diversion route, and to explain the proposals for the restoration of Deep Dale; submission for approval of an plan to show the access provision to enable public viewing of the restored quarry and lake.

 

Other: Any other conditions considered necessary in agreement with the

applicant.

 

3.  To delegate authority to the Director of Planning to finalise detailed conditions following consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Planning Committee.

 

During consideration of this item it was noted that the Minerals Team Manager was retiring due to ill health and the Committee thanked him for all his hard work on minerals issues over the past 27 years and sent him their best wishes.