Quarry future up for debate

Members of the Birks Quarry Action Group are urging locals to support them when they present key questions surrounding the controversial site at tomorrow’s Oldham Cabinet meeting.

The group represents hundreds of residents living near the quarry on the A62 Oldham to Huddersfield Road.

Campaigners are making their move after quarry boss Ervine Connell broke his year-long silence to tell the Chronicle he would meet a representative of the group and Oldham Council.

This is the latest in a series of approaches to the council spearheaded by Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas.

He has already written to council chief executive Charlie Parker, asking the council to reach an amicable settlement with Mr Connell’s Royton-based Opengoal Limited.

In a second letter to the chief executive, Mr Woolas said: “For the first time since the original planning application in 1988, it now seems there is a distinct possibility the blight of a landfill at Birks Quarry can be eliminated once and for all for the hundreds who live close to the quarry.”

Three weeks ago, an appeal against the Environment Agency’s decision to refuse a permit to tip at the quarry was dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate.

The agency said the decision recognised that mud on the road can pose a real risk to motorists.

But after Mr Connell said he would meet a member of the action group, their spokesman said: “Members will be only too pleased to help in any way they can with the aim of establishing the quarry for community use.

“We urge Oldham Council to reach an amicable and honourable settlement to the opportunity presented by Mr Connell.

“We would be willing to act as a forum to gain residents’ views with respect to uses the quarry can offer.”

The group has circulated all its local ward and parish councillors asking to support them at 9am at Oldham Civic Centre.

Opengoal has until April to seek a judicial review on the ruling and could re-apply 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.