5,500 letters of objection over quarry

Objections to plans for a new quarry in a village on the Staffordshire/Dudley border have now topped 5,500 letters and a 3,000 name petition.

But it is likely to be February before councillors consider the scheme.

The Quarries Fighting Fund campaign group has now submitted two major objection documents to plans by F G Davis to excavate sand and gravel from a 19-acre site off Mile Flat, Wall Heath. The protestors are also fighting plans by FG Davis to extend the length of time it can continue working its existing quarry at nearby Enville Road.

Villagers complain of dust and extra traffic and say it will be even worse if more sand and gravel extraction was allowed nearby.

Four of the eight pitches on land rented by Dudley-Kingswinford Rugby Club would disappear if the new quarry was allowed. The club is among the protesters.

Fighting fund leader Dave Tyler said: "We are very pleased with the quality and content of both objection documents and it would be a perverse decision if

Staffordshire County Council did not agree with our findings. We are optimistic that common sense will see the refusal of the new Mile Flat quarry application and bring an end to the workings at Enville Road in 2013."

Staffordshire Councillor Mark Winnington said: "The applicant has requested more time to allow them to respond to objections."