1,000-name petition to fight plans for recycling facility at Black Country quarry

The proposals for Ketley Quarry in Kingswinford are expected to go before planning chiefs in the coming weeks – heralding the next stage of a long-running dispute with residents. Along with the petition, residents have written more than 350 letters of objection. And they are considering staging a protest outside the planning meeting when the application is up.

Bosses at tilemakers Hinton Perry and Davenhill insist they have always addressed complaints from residents and have co-operated with council officials.

People living near the site have already called for council chiefs to measure the impact the site is having on the area.

Operator WCL was recently given permission for vehicles to arrive at 7.30am instead of 8am.

But residents say trucks waiting to enter the site are causing tailbacks.

It comes after bosses at the firm were warned by council chiefs earlier this month when lorries were caught entering the site before 7.30am.

The application to crush and recycle bricks was originally submitted a year ago.

Ward councillor Patrick Harley said: "The road outside the site just can't cope with any more traffic – I can't imagine what it would be like if they got planning permission. It's an accident waiting to happen."

Alex Patrick-Smith, managing director of Hinton Perry and Davenhill, said Councillor Harley and local residents were trying to "get in the way of the growth of business in the borough".

He added: "We have been scrutinised closely by the council throughout this process and we have always reacted to complaints."