Proposed extension and deepening of quarry for extraction of minerals for high specification aggregate and other products, and construction of spoil tip at Pigsdon Quarry Non Technical Summary of Environmental Statement May 2012 5009731\Pigsdon Quarry NTS rev 0.docx
Proposed extension and deepening of quarry for extraction of minerals for high specification aggregate and other products, and construction of spoil tip at Pigsdon Quarry, Launcells, Bude, Cornwall Non Technical Summary of Environmental Statement May 2012 Notice This report was produced by Atkins Ltd. for E&JW Glendinning Ltd. for the specific purpose of providing an NTS of the Environmental Statement for the proposed development of Pigsdon Quarry, Launcells, Bude, Cornwall. This report may not be used by any person other than E&JW Glendinning Ltd. without its express permission. In any event, Atkins accepts no liability for any costs, liabilities or losses arising as a result of the use of or reliance upon the contents of this report by any person other than its Client. 5009731\Pigsdon Quarry NTS rev 0.docx
Contents Section Page Introduction 1 Site Description and Context 1 Current operations 1 Reasons for the proposals 2 Description of the proposals 2 Anticipated environmental impacts 3 Cumulative Residual Impacts 7 5009731\Pigsdon Quarry NTS rev 0.docx
Introduction 1. This is the Non Technical Summary (NTS) of an Environmental Statement which accompanies a planning application submitted on behalf of E&JW Glendinning Ltd for the extension and deepening of Pigsdon Quarry for extraction of minerals for high specification aggregate and other products, and construction of a spoil tip. 2. The purpose of the Environmental Statement is to enable the decision makers and other interested parties to understand the nature of the proposals, the likely impacts that they may have on the environment and, where applicable, identify mitigation measures to avoid, reduce, remedy or compensate for adverse impacts, or to create or enhance environmental benefits. The ES comprises a main volume with supporting appendices, and this Non Technical Summary Site Description and Context 3. Pigsdon Quarry is situated about 1 km east of the B3254 which runs south off the A39 between Kilkhampton and Red Post on the A 3072. It is situated in a rural setting surrounded by agricultural land, with scattered farmsteads and dwellings lie in the vicinity. The closest dwellings to the quarry and footprint of current proposals are Pigsdon Bungalow to the south east, further afield are Higher Pigsdon Farm to the east, Lopthorne Farm to the west and Lower Lopthorne Farm and Moreton Pound to the south west. Langford Farm lies beyond a ridgeline north of the quarry. Access to and from the site is via lanes from the B3254. 4. The area has been quarried for over 100 years. Quarries are shown on the OS maps dating 1891. The quarry extracts stone from the Upper Carboniferous (Westphalian) fine sandstone which yields a nationally significant high PSV (polished stone value) sandstone/gritstone for use as an aggregate suitable for high skid resistant road surfaces. The quarry is the only worked source of this high PSV within the southwest of England. Pigsdon aggregate is used by asphalt manufacturers throughout the southwest forming a key constituent of the road surface in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset. Building stone for decorative and hedging purposes & material for flood defence works is also extracted from the quarry, serving markets throughout North Cornwall and Devon. Some materials are also processed to produce construction aggregates & fills. The nature of the deposit is such that a large amount of poor quality material or spoil is produced as a byproduct in the release of usable minerals. 5. The current proposals seek to avoid the sterilisation of high specification mineral deposit below the existing floor of the quarry by resolving an ongoing need to tip quarry spoil, deepening the existing void and extending the quarry further to the west. 6. The proposals have three main elements:- Deepening the existing consented area west of the Lamberal Water by up to 40m Extending the quarry to the west of the existing quarry Constructing a tip for quarry spoil on land to the south of the existing quarry and proposed extension. Current operations 7. The quarry is in two parts, the original working area to the east, and a more recent working area to the west. The two parts of the quarry are separated by a watercourse called Lamberal Water, and linked by a bridge that spans the river. Extraction in the eastern part has ceased and the void is now being filled with quarry spoil from the working in the western part and restored for agricultural use, returning the land for productive yield for local farming. 8. More recently planning permission has been granted for a number of extensions and quarry spoil tipping operations to the west of the River, approved in 1998, 2005 and 2010. Extraction is now focussed on this recently consented area. The planning permissions permit extraction of stone down to Ordnance Datum level 121m, which is just above the level of the Lamberal Water. Stone 5009731\Pigsdon Quarry NTS rev 0.docx 1
is released by a combination of blasting and mechanical extraction with excavators, and is processed through mobile plant in the western void. Processing consists of a combination of crushing and screening to produce the range of products. Materials are stockpiled on the quarry floor. 9. All products are then transported from the west to the east quarry either for onward sale or, in the case of the spoil, used to restore the east quarry void. It is also in this eastern part of the site where the quarry offices, workshop, weighbridge and asphalt plant are located. 10. The quarry operates an informal one way system for lorries, such that incoming vehicles approach the quarry from the B3254 at Hersham Cross Junction and leave via the lane emerging onto the B3254 at Rhude Cross. Reasons for the proposals 11. The intention of Glendinning is not to change the annual output of the quarry but to ensure the longevity of this nationally important gritstone aggregate reserve for use in asphalt manufacture. The principal reason for the proposed planning application is to optimise the release of the gritstone aggregate. If this local resource is restricted increased amounts of high PSV aggregate will have to be imported into Cornwall and Devon from Wales or Ireland to maintain and develop roads. The most immediate issue is availability of tipping space for quarry spoil. 12. At the time of the previous application it was calculated that there was sufficient capacity within the eastern part of the site to contain the majority of quarry spoil from the consented area. Only a small amount would need to be accommodated in the western part of the quarry, allowing the western part to be fully excavated. 13. However, the quarry s principal customer, which uses the material for asphalt manufacture, has imposed a significant change in the specification of aggregate which means that Pigsdon, in common with similar quarries elsewhere in the country, now have to further process the aggregate before sale. This produces a higher proportion of spoil than was the case under the previous specification. In addition the operators are currently excavating the northern and southern edges of the consented area which contain a higher proportion of interbedded spoils than the central part of the deposit. 14. Thus a greater volume of spoil will be produced than was originally provided for and this will arise earlier in the extraction process. This will seriously restrict the amount of deposit that can be extracted from within the consented area, because there is nowhere to put the spoil. Unless further capacity for spoil is made available, the existing quarry will yield less mineral, and in addition the deeper deposits below the current floor of the western void will be permanently sterilised limiting this local source of gritstone for use on the county s roads. 15. This new application will seek to maximise the yield from the existing consented area and release the reserve below the current level to avoid it being sterilised. In tandem a further quarry extension is being sought to the west of the 2010 extension. This is to enable the quarry to be worked more efficiently, to help secure local employment and to contribute to the investment in modernising the quarry infrastructure. The combined deepening and extension of the quarry will provide a further 20 years or so of reserves. Description of the proposals Construction of new spoil tip 16. Once the current tipping area in the eastern part of the quarry is filled and restored, it is proposed to provide the additional tipping capacity in a new tip located in a valley to the south of the existing quarry and proposed extension. The surface layers from the extension area and new tip area will be removed and stored for use in the surface restoration of the existing and new tips. Similarly wherever possible, the existing hedgerows within the tip footprint will be relocated. This will mean that they are available for use in the tip restoration, and meanwhile will maintain connectivity with 5009731\Pigsdon Quarry NTS rev 0.docx 2
the surrounding hedgerows and woodland alongside the Lamberal Water whilst the tip is being filled. 17. The tip will be filled in layers, with the outer edge of each layer constructed to a higher level first. This will provide an effective bund to screen subsequent operations both visually and to reduce noise and dust associated with the tipping operation. Material to be tipped will be hauled from the quarry via an access track running along the valley side between the two sites. This is the least intrusive route as well as being the shortest. On completion, the tip surface will be restored to agriculture, and the hedgerows replaced in an equivalent position to maintain the field pattern as appropriate. Deepening and extending the quarry 18. Quarry spoil to be tipped in the new tip will come from extracting within the existing western quarry area, both consented material and the proposed deepening. Once the tip has been completed all surplus spoil from ongoing extraction will be accommodated in the deepened western void. The quarrying operation will be phased to maximise extraction prior to tipping within the void, leaving sufficient space available on the quarry floor for extraction and processing. After the existing quarry has been deepened by 40m, extraction will move to the proposed extension, which will entail quarrying up to the hedgerows to the west of the existing consented area. 19. The quarrying method will be a continuation of the methods that are currently used, i.e. material released by controlled blasting at intervals, followed by processing within the void before export of sales by lorry. Although, progressively updated processing equipment will be introduced, the proposals do not imply any changes to the current capacity of processing or other operations, and are being put forward to enable extraction to continue at the same rate as currently but for a longer period. Thus there will not be any increase in overall traffic levels, only ongoing seasonal fluctuations. 20. On completion, the spoil within the remaining quarry void will be levelled, the quarry faces made safe and the whole site restored. The current intention is to continue the currently approved restoration strategy approach by allowing the site to regenerate naturally. However, the proposals include a possible review of this strategy 5 years or so before cessation to agree a future use of the site, in consultation with the planners and the local community. Phasing and Restoration 21. The various elements of the proposals will be phased, with the new spoil tip being constructed and restored first, then the existing western quarry area deepened, and further spoil filled therein, before the existing quarry is extended to the west. The quarry void will be restored thereafter. Anticipated environmental impacts 22. The anticipated environmental impacts have been investigated and mitigation measures identified. The ES and technical appendices contain the details of the investigations and assessments. Brief information on the likelihood of any of the identified impacts being significant is as follows:- Landscape and Visual Impact 23. The landscape and visual impact will be principally from the tipping operation, which is anticipated to take 6-7 years. The impact will be limited by the proposed method of tip construction, whereby the outer part of the tip will be built up first in layers to shield subsequent tipping. Views of the proposed tip site area available from a limited number of public viewpoints and private properties in the vicinity. Additional screening is proposed at the nearest gateway, and by allowing the intervening hedgerow to grow taller. 24. Once completed the tip will be covered with topsoil and hedgerows reinstated to recreate a field pattern on the new profile. This can either replicate the existing field pattern or as a new layout whichever is considered most suitable. The applicant has undertaken a similar restoration strategy on a tip at its existing operation at their other major aggregate quarry at Ashburton in the Dartmoor National Park. This is considered to be an appropriate model to follow at Pigsdon. 5009731\Pigsdon Quarry NTS rev 0.docx 3
25. Deepening the existing quarry will not affect the landscape at all. The effect of the quarry extension will be to move the western quarry face further west. This will continue to be visible from the same limited viewpoints from which it is already visible. 26. Overall the landscape impact is assessed as moderate whilst the tip is being constructed, and minor thereafter. Ecology 27. The site does not lie within any nature conservation designations. There are no SSSIs within 1 km of the site. Potential ecological impacts have been investigated and indicated the possible presence of badgers and dormice in the vicinity of the access to the tipping area. The haul road, tip shape, proposed relocation of the hedgerows and timing of all operations have been designed to mitigate impacts on these and other species within the vicinity. The area for the western extension to the quarry is less sensitive, but will require relocation of the hedgerow between the two fields. Half of this hedgerow has already been successfully relocated as of the extension permitted in 2010, and the relocation of the remainder will be a similar operation. 28. A hedgerow survey has also being undertaken. The findings are that the hedgerows likely to be effected are generally of poor quality, but the better lengths should be relocated prior to the commencement of tipping to maintain connectivity with the woodland along the river and other hedgerows surrounding the site. 29. Overall the impact on ecological features is assessed as not significant. Noise 30. Ambient noise levels for daily working have been monitored. It is clear that background noise levels for the nearest dwellings are variable, and are often already higher than 45 decibels (Leq A) which is the level for daily working in the noise condition attached to the existing planning permissions for the quarry. This is the case outside the quarry s operating hours, indicating that this is due to other noise sources in the locality. Elsewhere background noise levels are lower, but still variable. 31. Calculations of noise levels associated with the proposals indicate that topsoil stripping prior to tipping and constructing the screening bund on the tip are the most likely sources of elevated noise levels on the nearest dwellings in the early phases of the proposals. Topsoil stripping prior to quarrying the western extension is the most likely source of elevated noise levels later. All are temporary operations. An assessment has also been made of the noise impact that may result from moving the quarry plant from the central part of the western void to the area beside the river to enable the quarry deepening. 32. Stripping and constructing the screening bund will be done shortly after commencement and will take no more than 8 weeks. Stripping for the spoil tip will take place in two successive years starting shortly after commencement with the duration of each stripping not exceeding 8 weeks in any one year. Although noise levels will be higher than the 45 decibels during this time, they will be below the limits for temporary operations included in the noise condition on the planning permission and as advised in the Technical Guidance to the National Planning Policy Framework for temporary operations (defined as 8 weeks). If necessary, working hours during the temporary operations can be restricted to limit their impact. 33. Overall, the tipping operation is not a continuous daily operation. it will consist of a combination of transporting and tipping the spoil by dump truck, calculated to take about 2 hours per day, 5 days a week, plus levelling the spoil by dozer, calculated to take about 3 hours per day, which will occur on 2 days of the week. 34. Thus the activities involved in constructing the spoil tip will occupy about 16 hours a week. Provided the number of plant is limited to no more than the dozer and one dump truck at the same time when the operations are at their closest to the neighbouring dwellings, the noise levels from these operations will be within the current 45 decibel limit. The tip will take about 6 7 years to complete, depending on the rate of extraction. 5009731\Pigsdon Quarry NTS rev 0.docx 4
35. The quarry plant will be moved after work has started on the new tip. Provided identified noise attenuation is implemented, noise levels will be limited to within the current 45 db level. 36. Stripping prior to quarrying the extension will take place some 9 or 10 years after the tip has been completed. It is calculated to take no more than 8 weeks to undertake. Again noise levels will be above the 45 decibels but below the temporary operations limit. 37. Overall the residual noise impact is assessed as moderate for temporary operations and minor for the long term operations. Flooding and Groundwater Impacts 38. The tip footprint and quarry deepening and extension are not in an area that is liable to flooding, and will not increase the likelihood of flooding in the flood zone alongside the Lamberal Water. 39. Dewatering will need to be undertaken to prevent the deepened void from filling with ground water. Deepening of the quarry floor will assist in control of surface water run-off. Pumping of the combination of surface water captured in the deepened void and ground water can be calibrated to pre-agreed rates. The water pumped from the deepened quarry will be discrarged back into the river following settlement. The proposals will also need to ensure that there is no adverse effect no water features in the vicinity of the quarry. This will also be controlled by a Discharge Consent from the Environment Agency. 40. Glendinning have long experience of dewatering at their other major aggregate site, and can therefore demonstrate a track record on following standard procedures designed to ensure that ground water impacts are not significant. 41. Overall the impacts on flooding and ground water are assessed as negligible. Dust 42. Dust during the tipping operation and from ongoing extraction will be controlled by adopting best practice. For extraction the operation will continue to apply the measures for dust control as agreed with the Council under the current planning permission and environmental permit; for the tipping operation, best practice involves a combination of measures; minimising the stripped and exposed area by limiting new exposures and covering up recently worked areas promptly; and by suppression by water sprays on the haul road. In addition, the potential impact on neighbouring properties is reduced by distance from the site. Traffic 43. No impact on traffic levels is anticipated because no change to ongoing production levels is anticipated. Blasting 44. The existing planning permissions specify a ppv (peak particle velocity) limit of 8.5 mm/sec measured at the nearest dwelling house. The current regime of blasting is as follows:- drilling is undertaken on a campaign basis, normally for a week s duration, which is sufficient for a month or so of blasting. Blasting is normally undertaken once a week, depending on weather conditions and demand Monitoring of blasting vibration is currently undertaken when blasting is taking place on the quarry face closest to the nearest dwellings. This is done using a vibrograph positioned on the boundary of the quarry at 50m and at 250m from the blast site. 45. The monitoring results consistently show that the ppv reading recorded at 50m from the blast site is within the limit of 8.5 mm/sec specified for the closest dwelling, and the majority of the 250m readings failing to trigger the meter, which is set at 1.0 mm/sec. 46. All blasting associated with the proposed quarry extension will be a continuation of the current regime, in terms of drilling, blasting, blasting management and monitoring. Whilst the proposals will bring quarrying, and therefore blasting, closer to the closest dwellings, the intervening distance will still be more than 250m from the blast site. 5009731\Pigsdon Quarry NTS rev 0.docx 5
47. So the impact from blasting in connection with the proposals is assessed as negligible. Heritage impact 48. There are no Scheduled ancient monuments in the vicinity of the quarry or extension. The closest are earthworks some 2 km to the north, east of Kilkhampton, and a settlement camp close to Huntshill Wood, some 3km to the west. The quarry itself is noted as a historical feature, as it has been in operation for more than 100 years. The field pattern in the surrounding area has been in existence for at least the same duration. It is shown on OS maps dated from 1875 to 1901. However there is no acknowledged significance attached to the field pattern. 49. The impact on heritage features is therefore considered to be nil. Socio economic impacts 50. The material that the quarry extracts is categorised as highspecification aggregate because it has special qualities which make it suitable for use in skid resistant raod surfacing. The importance of this typoe of mineral is recongised at national, regional and local level. It is limited in its occurrence and there are no other quarries currently supplying HSA in the south west. The nearest active quarries that currently supply HSA are from South Wales; and Ireland. 51. Locally Pigsdon Quarry directly employs 16 full time people, and assists in the employment of others in the local construction and haulage industry. 52. For many years the quarry has supported the local community carnivals and fêtes and taken part in parades with mobile plant. Occasionally the quarry has used its mobile plant in assisting with clearance of snow from surrounding roads. Regular advertisements are placed in local newspapers and parish council journals. A quarry visit for Launcells Parish Councillors will be planned for the summer 2012 as part of community consultation with the arrangements communicated to the secretary in the coming weeks. 53. There are therefore notable positive beneficial socio and economic impacts associated with the ongoing operation of Pigsdon Quarry, at national, regional and local levels. 5009731\Pigsdon Quarry NTS rev 0.docx 6
Cumulative Residual Impacts 54. The overall significance of the cumulative residual impacts of the proposals at Pigsdon Quarry taking into account the envisaged mitigation is assessed as indicated in the following table:- Table 1 Overall Assessment of the impact of the Pigsdon Quarry proposals Type of Impact Importance Magnitude of Impact Significance Landscape- temporary Low Moderate Slightly adverse Landscape - permanent Low Minor Slightly adverse Visual - temporary Low Major/Moderate Moderate adverse Visual -permanent Low Minor Slightly adverse Statutory Sites (SSSI) High Not significant BAP habitats High Not significant Protected and notable fauna Medium Not significant Flooding Medium Negligible Slightly adverse Water interests Medium Negligible Slightly adverse Noise temporary Medium Moderate Adverse Noise - permanent Medium Minor Slightly adverse Highways Medium Nil Neutral Dust Medium Negligible Slightly adverse Blasting Medium Negligible Slightly adverse Heritage impact High Nil Neutral Economic -supply of HSA Socio Economic- jobs and community involvement High Moderate Beneficial High Moderate Beneficial 5009731\Pigsdon Quarry NTS rev 0.docx 7
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