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Hundreds oppose Quarry proposals

Bethan Dorsett
27/11/2007

HUNDREDS of opponents to the controversial Ding Quarry bid have voiced their criticism to the council.

The planning department has been inundated with letters since D P Williams (Holdings) Ltd submitted a plan which suggested it would re-open the quarry.

The Welsh-based company, which wants the council to reveal what conditions it would need to adhere to if it started quarrying again, sparked mass demonstrations a decade ago when it announced it would start work on the quarry.

And the new plan has invoked a similarly strong reaction, with over 300 objections submitted to the council so far.

The Observer’s Sling Out Ding campaign is also heating up, with several campaigners voicing their concerns on our letters page and even requesting more of our distinctive yellow campaign posters to give out to their friends.

Surinder Biant is one of the original members of the long-standing Ding Quarry Action Group and was even arrested during the 1990s for trying to stop lorries from accessing the Lanehead site.

"I am very pleased with the public’s response to the latest campaign," said the former Healey councillor.

"Everywhere I go I see the Observer’s posters up in windows and I am also very pleased with the newspaper’s campaign.

"The fact that so many people have written to the council also sends out a strong message."

The official public consultation came to an end last week, with the Williams inquiry expected to go before councillors in January.

But the officers have previously stated they will continue to accept letters until the planning committee makes its decision.

Mr Biant added: "People must keep writing in. If this quarry re-opens I believe people across Rochdale will suffer.

"It is a beautiful walking spot but it could be ruined."

Carter Jonas. the consultancy firm representing D P Williams, was unavailable to comment as the Observer went to press.