CONSULTATION has began on early plans to establish a sand and gravel quarry near Aspatria.

Cumbria County Council has received initial notice of a planning application for a sand and gravel quarry at Goodyhills Quarry, five miles north of Aspatria.

The plans are in the scoping phase, meaning that a planning application has not been formally submitted yet, those involved are currently assessing the issues that would be involved in the development at the site.

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Scoping responses would then be included in the Environmental Impact Assessment when it is submitted to the council with the planning application.

Plans have been submitted by Harrisons, “a long established Cumbrian business” based in Silloth.

They already have a quarry for the extraction of gravel and sand but are considering beginning operations at Goodyhills Quarry before the time comes that a new resource is needed.

The applicant and agent are set to engage with the public on the potential development during the application process.

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It is argued that sourcing sand and gravel outside of Cumbria would be costly and more harmful to the environment due to the logistics and increase in mileage.

If approved, the quarry site would be accessed from the C2019 road which is 300 metres southwest of the B5301.

It is expected that operations at the quarry would be split into five phases, with the first and second phase beginning at the northern point of the quarry in a south westerly direction.

100,000 tonnes of sand and gravel is estimated to be exported off-site per year. That amount is estimated to be approximately 3,570 HGV loads per annum, over a week of 50 operational hours it would be 72 HGV loads.

Supporting statements report that proposed operational hours would be 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 1pm on Saturdays.

The county council has received the plans as the authority responsible for planning applications involving minerals and waste.

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