Quarry owner is happy to talk

THE entrance to Birks Quarry

THE boss of a controversial quarry has revealed he is willing to talk to Oldham Council about the future of the site.

Ervine Connell is head of the Royton-based company which was behind plans to begin tipping inert waste at Birks Quarry on the main A62 Oldham-Huddersfield Road at Austerlands.

However, the appeal by Mr Connell’s company, Opengoal Ltd, against the Environment Agency’s decision to refuse a permit to tip at the quarry has been dismissed.

The Environment Agency said the Planning Inspectorate’s decision recognised “mud on the road can pose a real risk to road users at this location.”

Now Mr Connell (41) has broken his silence on the long-running dispute, saying: “I am willing to hear Oldham Council’s views and suggestions on future use of the quarry.

“I am ready to meet their officers at any time to have an open dialogue with them and would welcome an early response.”

A spokesperson for the Birks Quarry Action Group, which opposed the plan to reopen the quarry for tipping, said: “We very much welcome such an overture.

“We are very willing to work with Opengoal to achieve an amicable and honourable solution.”

Mr Connell made his move after reading a letter sent to Oldham Council’s chief executive, Charlie Parker, by Phil Woolas, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth.

The letter urges the council to examine alternative uses for the quarry — recommended by community champion Councillor Barbara Beeley — including a wildlife haven, a recreation area, or a rock climbing training centre.

There has also be a suggestion of a possible memorial garden.

Mr Woolas said: “Bringing the quarry into public ownership would end this long-running saga of a proposed landfill site which has planning permission but is unable to gain a licence to tip following the recent public inquiry.

“Residents would also be able to gather a number of able-bodied volunteers together to plant trees and return local plants to the area and re-establish safe footpaths.”

Mr Woolas added in his letter: “I urge you to enter into an early dialogue with the owners to negotiate terms for the transfer of the ownership of the quarry to Oldham Council for a future public open space area as suggested by councillors.

“Your early response to this exciting prospect is eagerly anticipated by many hundreds of residents whose homes have been effectively blighted by the possibility of a massive landfill operation on their community since 1994, and which can now be eliminated by a change to council ownership of Birks Quarry.”

Opengoal has until April to seek a judicial review of the ruling and could reapply for a permit.

The public inquiry was prompted by its appeal against a decision by the Environment Agency to refuse the permit in April, 2009.