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ROAD worries ... Jason Addy is concerned extra lorries will add even more traffic to an already busy Rooley Moor Road. (Picture: Save Spodden Valley)
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Objectors' fears over quarry plan
Bethan Dorsett3/11/2007
IMPORTANT omissions have been made in a controversial plan for Ding Quarry.
That is the claim from two objectors to an application from DP Williams (Holdings) Ltd, which is asking the council to state the conditions it would have to adhere to if it mined the Lanehead site.
The company caused outrage over 10 years ago when it revealed plans to work on the quarry, but pulled out when councillors imposed stringent working conditions.
One objector fears it could threaten a site of archaeological importance, while the other is worried about its proximity to a windfarm development.
Stuart Mendelsohn is an archaeology graduate who contacted the Observer earlier this year after he believed he had found evidence of a Viking presence in Rochdale dating back to the ninth century.
Now he says he is worried after noticing the new application made no reference to the site’s history.
He says the name ‘Ding’ or ‘Dinge’ refers to an old Scandinavian word for ‘assembly’ and would have usually been situated on common land.
“The sites in question have been left out of the report and should have been shown,” he said.
“They have recently been visited and acknowledged by English Heritage, who have found evidence of two ancient monuments on the moorland.”
He says he is working with the agency to ‘schedule’ the site as one of archaeological importance.
The report submitted to the council by DP Williams’ consultants Carter Jonas recognises that the work would affect old stone and undisturbed peat.
But it states a photographic record would be produced of any industrial remains found and a schedule of any work with regards to the stripping of peat would be submitted to the council.
In the meantime, Jason Addy of the Save Spodden Valley campaign has spotted what he claims are ‘other holes’ in the plan.
Mr Addy – who is leading a fight against a 600-home plan for homes at the old Turner Brothers asbestos factory – says it makes no reference to the windfarm development.
The turbines are due to be installed on Scout and Knowl moors early next year.
“In the planning application, Scout Moor is described as being remote,” said Mr Addy.
“There is absolutely no reference to the windfarms in the planning application, but the turbines may be up by March.”
He is also concerned that extra lorries could not only cause traffic chaos in Rooley Moor Road, but also cause damage to an old route leading to the site, Cotton Famine Road.
“If there are HGVs travelling on that road 26 times an hour then it will be destroyed,” he added.
The issue of traffic has been addressed in the application submitted last month for the 34-hectare site.
Carter Jonas states that working hours will be limited to 6am to 6.30pm on weekdays and 6am to 1pm on Saturdays, although lorries will not be able to travel to and from the site until 7am.
It also states that the increase of traffic on surrounding roads, namely Ings Lane, would be ‘marginal.’
Carter Jonas was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.
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4/11/2007 at 22:15