Wall Heath quarry will go for green space
A controversial quarry is to be restored back to green land as it reaches the end of its operational life, it has been revealed.
F G Davies has operated the quarry in Enville Road, Wall Heath, for decades but further work there is no longer viable.
The firm has now submitted restoration and aftercare management plans to Staffordshire County Council for approval.
The news has been welcomed by campaigners who said they 'would be glad to see the site closed'.
Dudley councillor Dave Tyler, a member of the Quarry Fighting Fund which successfully battled against the firm's plans to open another site nearby, said it was the end of a very long road for residents.
"It is good to see it will be turned to green land with the planting of new trees and vegetation and we will be glad to see the site closed in 2015," he said.
"Residents are very pleased to see these plans have been submitted."
Work at the site is to be completed by April 30, 2015, and will see new hedgerows and trees planted at the site.
Grazing areas will also be created for wildlife and new gates and fences installed around the site.
In a report to the council, officers say the northern section of the site is most restored while the north-west of the quarry already has a cover of vegetation.
Bosses from the firm last year failed in their bid to create a new quarry on a 19-acre site in Mile Flat for sand and gravel excavations.
But campaigners were left fuming after the county council gave the firm an extra 18 months to carry out works at the Enville Road site.
They were originally due to be completed by October 31 this year but the firm was allowed until April 30, 2015, to carry out the work.
Bosses had originally hoped for an extension of three years.
Councillor Tyler, ward member for Kingswinford North and Wall Heath, said: "I know people were not pleased when the extension was granted but it seems there will now be an end to this."
