Battle is won to cut excavation

A controversial quarry scheme proposed for land close to Wolverhampton, on the Dudley-Staffordshire border, has been dealt a blow after councillors won their battle to reduce excavation.

Contractor FG Davis wants to quarry land at the back of Dudley Kingswinford Rugby Club, off Swindon Road in Wall Heath.

It has submitted proposals it wants included in Staffordshire County Council's Minerals Core Strategy but they could now be rejected by planners.

It follows a recommendation by West Midlands Regional Assembly (WMRA) that Staffordshire's contribution to sand and gravel extraction should be cut.

The WMRA has advised the Government the county's share of the regional total should be reduced from 65 per cent to 55 per cent, a ruling that will make the plans easier to be thrown out.

Staffordshire County Council leader Councillor Philip Atkins welcomed the announcement.

He said: "This is good news, it means resisting inappropriate applications will be a lot easier for us.

"It is also good news for residents. I have been lobbied by a lot of people in areas of the county where we have received applications to quarry, most of them fearful about the blight on their homes.

"For the lifetime of a quarry there's all the disruption that goes with the work," he added.