Longstone Edge appeal victory for Peak Park

Written by Danny Carden and published in Matlock Mercury on Thu 19th Mar 2009

Longstone Edge is an extremely controversial quarry site

Controversial mining at a Peak District beauty spot will be tightly restricted, after a court upheld a Peak Park appeal on Wednesday morning.

The Court of Appeal overturned a High Court ruling which allowed large amounts of limestone to be taken from Backdale Quarry.

It confirmed the vast majority of limestone blasted during the extraction of fluorspar must remain at the Longstone Edge site near Calver.

National park authority chairman Narendra Bajaria said: "We very much welcome this decision - for three senior judges to uphold the authority's enforcement action gives great support to our case.

"We are particularly pleased that this judgment is a result of a joint appeal with the Secretary of State."

Mr Bajaria thanked campaigners for their support and said he expected MMC Midlands Limited to abide by the new ruling.

Friends of the Peak District head of planning Andy Tickle said: "This is fantastic news, and a huge relief.

"We are really happy to see a more considered view has been taken about what the planning permission means, and that this iconic Peak District landscape is being saved," added Mr Tickle.

However, environmentalists have warned more problems could lie ahead.

Campaign for National Parks acting chief executive Ruth Chambers said: "Although this is marvellous news, it isn't necessarily the end of the story.

"We do not think that this welcome judgment alone is sufficient for quarrying to be controlled properly in the future.

"We're now calling on Defra to buy out the planning permission completely. Only this will make Longstone Edge absolutely safe from future unscrupulous quarrying," she added.