Rutland Quarry Forum has voiced its concerns over the uncontrolled increase in quarrying in Rutland expected over the next few years, and the impact this will have on the landscape and people.

At its recent meeting the forum welcomed other interested parties, many of whom share their concerns: David Baker, from Greetham Parish Council and a member of the Greetham Quarry Liaison Group, was keen to know if Rutland Quarry Forum are trying to link in with Leicester and Rutland Wildlife Trust to protect quarry restoration to calcareous grassland in the Local Plan.

Chairperson David Hodgson, said: "Supposedly the Local Plan should control the amount of quarrying permitted in Rutland, but recent experience has shown that any amount is accepted. The planning system currently allows quarrying to come very close to where people live, and we believe there should be minimum separation distance between the two of at least 500 metres. In recent years, the enforcement of planning conditions has been poor due to problems with a shortage of qualified staff."

But Roger Ranson, planning policy and housing manager from Rutland County Council, explained: "The only reference to 'buffer zones' in the issues and options relates to protecting quarries from developments being closer than 500 meters, it does not have a policy relating to distancing quarries from developments.

"This policy has not yet been clarified, but will be guided by Minerals National Guidance before any decision on buffer policy is made, and I can confirm that North Northamptonshire County Council will also draft new policies, while Rutland County Council will review them, present them to cabinet, and only then will they go out for consultation."

Cliff Bacon, from Clipsham Parish Meeting, asked: "When will the evidence base will be completed, and when will it be published?"

Mr Ranson confirmed: "Once the evidence base is completed in late-February, everyone on the database, parish clerks, town councils and other interested bodies, will be informed that the evidence data will be made available, with policy statements later in the year."

Dave Hodson also expressed his disappointment that the Rutland Quarry Forum would not be involved in the process of moving from the 'issues and options' responses, to the 'preferred options' stage; but Ingrid Hooley, Rutland County Council's head of sustainable economy and place, said: "I am keen for there to be significant community involvement in this process, and will be pressing for this. Rutland County Council receives a monthly report from North Northamptonshire Council, and holds quarterly performance related reviews relating to three main areas: Planning applications; Site monitoring visits; and Evidence of cost to Rutland County Council. The only reference to buffer zones in the issues and options relates to protecting."

Mr Ranson added: "Rutland County Council were made aware that one of North Northamptonshire Council's Mineral Officers had left, but advised the position had been filled and that North Northamptonshire Council were found to be performing in line with their performance related indicators. Although I'm unable to confirm how many site visits or inspections were contracted or undertaken, I believe they have met their target."

Rutland Quarry Forum requested access to the number of visits undertaken and to site visit reports over the last three years undertaken by Northamptonshire officers.

"The Eastern half of Rutland, which is on a limestone belt, has seen a significant increase in quarry applications and the size of those quarrying operations," Mr Hodgson added. "Some of these quarries are now in close proximity to residential areas, and the risks to health of particulate matter, and the need to improve air quality have been strongly promoted by the World Health Organisation. However, despite this, there has been no requirement to date for detailed health risk assessments to support planning applications."

Rutland Quarry Forum requested that Rutland County Council make a case for going beyond the National Minerals Guidance in order to protect the residents of Rutland, while Sarah Bedford, from Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust added: "We are happy to work with Rutland Quarry Forum in safeguarding calcareous grasslands, and are currently working with Ketton (Hanson) on their restoration of old quarry sites to calcareous grasslands.

"Rutland Quarry Forum's biggest concern is that restoration conditions, sometimes 20 years old, are often ignored by the smaller sized operators, with enforcement by local authorities being poor. The news that Mick George has now been taken over by Hanson is seen as a positive step towards protecting these conditions pertaining to the restoration of quarries."

Mary Cade, from the Ketton and Tinwell Hanson Quarry Liaison Group, said: "We meet three times a year with Hanson, and have a good working relationship with them. The new quarry manager is doing a very good job of restoring the old quarry, and I suggest that the Local Plan should have a policy that liaison hroups must be set up for each quarry."

She went on to advise: "Calcareous grassland requires a lot of upkeep and resource. At Hanson's Ketton works, sheep are deployed as the best way of keeping the grasslands at the correct length. But, I can confirm that Hanson is about to put another planning application in for yet another a quarry extension that will come within 300 meters of a possible future housing development, and that it will be accessed from the A606."

The next scheduled meeting of the Rutland Quarry Forum is due in March.