Whitwell: Residents invited to attend meeting on future of quarry

Lafarge Tarmac, the operator of the quarry, is hosting a public exhibition on Wednesday 10th June, 2pm-7pm, and Thursday 11th, 10am-3pm, at Whitwell Community Centre.

The consultation is ahead of the company’s plans to submit a planning application to Derbyshire County Council later this year for permission to extract limestone in four additional areas on the edge of the main quarry.

The Whitwell site has a range of mineral-related businesses that in total is thought to support more than 220 jobs and inject over £6m a year into the local economy.

The company says that at current demand the quarry will run out of permitted stone reserves in 10 years and that additional reserves would give it an extra 15 years.

David Atkinson, estates manager for Lafarge Tarmac, said: “It’s important to us that our neighbours get the opportunity to give us feedback on our proposals to secure the longer term future of Whitwell Quarry. It’s a significant part of the local economy and an important supplier of limestone products both locally and nationally.”

This week the operator distributed nearly 2,000 information leaflets in the neighbourhood inviting them to attend the exhibition.

The company says similar processing facilities which are off Southfield Lane, Whitwell, would be used and distribution by road on regulated routes would continue.

Chairman of Whitwell Parish Council, Tom Munro, said: “I would encourage as many people as possible to visit the exhibition by Tarmac Lafarge on the proposed planning application. “

“The parish council will of course be consulted in full once the application is formally submitted and it will be then that any observations will be made.”

Whitwell Quarry is a major supplier of construction aggregate to the region and is also one of only two sites in the UK that quarries industrial grade magnesian limestone which is converted on site by a separate company to make essential products used in the steel and refractory industries.

Whitwell Community Centre, is located at The Square. Staff will be on hand to answer any questions or issues that residents may wish to raise.