Residents of a Perthshire hamlet say they can “breathe more easily” now that Perth and Kinross Council has refused plans for a quarry expansion ten metres from their gardens.
Mills Contractors submitted plans to Perth and Kinross Council to extract waste slate only a stone’s throw from houses at Deans Park near Dunkeld.
The company also sought further permission for the temporary operation of a mobile crusher and screen but council planners – using delegated powers – have rejected both applications.
Objectors to the proposed expansion at Newtyle Quarry argued residents would be put at “serious risk” if quarrying was allowed to happen just 10 metres from their gardens and 30 metres from their homes.
Dalgleish Associates submitted a temporary planning application, on behalf of Mills Contractors, to extract and haul waste slate from a tip – on 1.1 hectares of Newtyle Farm land – north-east of Deans Park houses for seven years before reinstating the land over the course of the following six months.
But Perth and Kinross Council received at least 18 objections, including a petition with 181 signatures.
Dunkeld and Birnam Community Council objected, arguing it would result in “exposing the public to the risk of silicosis and other health-related problems such as COPD, emphysema, asthma and poor lung function”.
The community council was concerned about the impact of both noise and dust from the proposal.
Deans Park residents have already been subject to slate dust from the quarry blanketing their vegetable patches, cars, roofs and conservatories.
The proposal was to excavate 500 to 700 tonnes of slate a day from Newtyle Hill, to a depth of 14 metres, then crush and grade it before loading the slate onto two to four lorries an hour.
The heavy haulage lorries would then drive through surrounding towns and villages.
Objectors’ concerns included: air pollution, noise pollution, landslide risk, surface water danger, environmental impact and road safety.
The supporting statement – submitted on behalf of the applicant – argued the environmental benefits of the proposal.
The statement – submitted by Dalgleish Associates – said: “The excavation and recycling of a waste slate tip is a sustainable process as it utilises waste materials as opposed to the utilisation of primary aggregates.
“The proposal accords with both National and LDP2 [Local Development Plan 2] policies in relation to working towards a zero waste lifestyle and maximising the value from waste resource.”
On Thursday, November 13, Perth and Kinross Council issued a decision notice refusing both applications.
The application for the temporary quarry expansion was refused due to its proximity to housing and the adverse environmental impact.
The temporary application for the mobile crushing and screening plant on land 230m north west of Newtyle Farm was also refused, due to the site not being industrial or brownfield land and there being no planning permission for further gathering and removal of slate waste in this location.
Deans Park resident and objector Bill Nicoll said: “The local community are delighted that the planning officers of Perth and Kinross Council have reached this logical decision after three years of having this issue hanging over us.
“It is a great testimony to local people and the community council that they maintained their commitment to strongly resist these proposals over this lengthy period.
“They can now literally breathe more easily without the threat to their fresh air, their low noise, safer roads and the environment.
“The time has surely come for public health risks to be properly considered for proposals such as this that clearly impact on community health and wellbeing.
“It’s also time for there to be national minimum safe distances from potentially dangerous operations and to impose the same constraints on ambient exposure to dust and substances that are being applied to occupational health and safety.
“So, while we celebrate this outcome and thank everyone for their fantastic support, we will continue to campaign for health protection in planning decisions in the future.”
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