A CONTROVERSIAL planning application to extend a Dartmoor quarry met fierce opposition from neighbouring residents at a parish council meeting last Thursday.

Around 30 people packed Meavy Primary School hall to object to plans to extend Yennadon Quarry at Dousland, during a meeting of Burrator Parish council's planning committee.

Operator at the quarry Yennadon Stone Ltd has said that it will run out of workable stone by 2015. To save its business and 21 associated jobs, it has submitted a plan to extend on the northern side of the quarry.

In the operator's application to Dartmoor National Park Authority, it has claimed that it did not wish to change the constraints imposed by the current planning conditions, including production rates and vehicle movements.

And to reduce the impact of the extension, Yennadon Quarry Ltd propose to in-fill depleted parts of the quarry.

But nearby residents hit out at the application, saying the quarry was the source of endless noise, dust, vehicle disturbance and was a 'general nuisance' to the villagers of Dousland.

Around ten people stood up to voice their objections — no-one spoke in favour of the scheme.

John Howells, who has been a resident in Dousland for 25 years, said that for the past two years there had been ongoing issues with dust, noise, lorries and drainage.

He said: 'There has been a lack of confidence from residents that the quarry is operating in a way that will see Dousland remains "an area of tranquility".

'Until a definite plan with a clear time-span is submitted for reinstatement work, this application should be refused.

'Noise and traffic flow and drainage have, at present, not been satisfactory. This this gives little confidence for acceptable future practice.

'Plans need to be re-thought with more attention to the whole operational scale before final approval is granted.'

One resident who lives at Woodlands, Dousland, said that he was concerned that once the operators had made their money, they would not fulfill its condition of in-filling before they left, saying it would leave a 'nasty scar' for future generations.

Another resident, whose home is currently 125 metres from the quarry on the northern side, said he already had an issue with noise and vibration in his home, and was concerned that with the proposed expansion, the quarry could be just 90m from his home.

He said: 'How is the noise and vibration going to affect us? I think it is going to be unbearable.'

Around 55 letters have been submitted to the Dartmoor National Park Authority's planning department, most voicing their objections.

One man wrote: 'Dartmoor should be protected at all costs.

'Doubling the size of the operations would have a devastating effect on a beautiful area of the moor and we believe that in granting approval Dartmoor Park would be failing in its duty to protect the moor.'

But, another man, who lives in Tavistock, said he supported the plan, which would preserve local jobs, ensure availability of local stone, and support a locally owned business.

One man, from Dousland, said that while he did not object to the proposal, he wanted conditions to be met to ensure that unused areas were reinstated to moorland and any cliffs created be made safe, properly fenced and signed.

After public question time at the council meeting, councillors addressed the application.

Cllr Neil Morrison, who voted against the plan, said: 'I thought it was straightforward moving to the north, but hearing residents and the overwhelming objections, I feel this would be detrimental to the community.'

Cllr Pauline Frisk asked for more time for people to give their views.

She said: 'There have been objections from residents from the wider area and it seems to be a big issue, we need more time for people to give their views.'

Chairman of the meeting Mark Harding said: 'Supporting the application is subject to conditions which the quarry must meet — criteria which includes noise, dust and traffic.'

The majority of the councillors voted in favour of the plan as long as those conditions were met.

The application can be viewed on the Yennadon Stone Ltd website at http://www.yennadonstone.com">www.yennadonstone.com — click the link that says 'planning permission documents'. The plans can also be seen on the DNPA website at http://www.dartmoor">www.dartmoor. gov.uk/planning

The consultation period regarding the extension finishes tomorrow (Friday).

A final decision on the application will be made by the DNPA planning committee, although it is not likely to be considered by members until the spring, due its complexity.