Quarry campaign hit by major blow Appeal decision means Gillies Hill work could resume
The controversial resumption of quarrying on Cambusbarron’s Gillies Hill looks set to go ahead despite a long-standing campaign by villagers.
A Scottish Government Reporter has upheld Patersons Quarries’ appeal against councillors’ rejection of plans, lodged in 2018, for a track to Murrayshall Quarry from Polmaise Road.
Granting planning permission, Reporter David Liddell also pointed out that the principle of quarrying at the site had already been established.
Stirling Council had turned down the scheme last summer on the grounds of noise, the impact on air quality and road safety – as well as the extent of tree loss on the hill.
Among the objectors were Cambusbarron Community Council and the Save Gillies Hill campaign group who had submitted a petition containing 455 signatures.
Save Gillies Hill chairman Iain Munro said this week the appeal decision, dated March 16, which grants permission for the track subject to 16 conditions, is a huge blow to their 13-year-old campaign.
He said: “We’re extremely disappointed. Quarrying will bring destruction and harm to the environment, not only in
Cambusbarron, but to Stirling city in general.
“It will trigger the escalation of CO2 emissions from lorries, air pollution, noise, the risk to schoolchildren’s safety and road users.
“We believe it flies in the face of Scottish Government environmental policy and guidance.”
Patersons Quarries, who lease the east section of the quarry, do not have the right to use the existing track to the south west owned by Tillicoultry Quarries, which currently operates a concrete batching plan there.
In 2014 Patersons had applied for planning permission to continue quarrying along with a new access road similar to the current proposal.
An appeal against Stirling Council’s failure to determine the 2014 application on time was dismissed in February 2017.
However, Mr Liddell in his ruling noted both Stirling Council and Patersons are agreed that ‘planning permission remains in place and quarrying could restart under the terms of the 2002 permission’.
He said the 2002 permission, and the 2017 appeal decision, were important considerations, adding: ‘The principle of quarrying at the site, and of quarry vehicles using Polmaise Road, is already established.’ Mr Liddell added: ‘Construction of the proposed track would not have the effect of changing any of the planning conditions of the 2002 permission.
‘Nor would it directly affect the ability to extract material, or the rate of extraction. It could indirectly affect these factors however.
‘For example as the appellants [Patersons Quarries] are seemingly not currently willing or able, for whatever reason, to reach agreement on the use of the current access then the proposed new access might remove that impediment to resuming quarrying’.
Extraction of minerals at Murrayshall Quarry was granted planning consent in 1982, said Mr Liddell, ‘although it seems that the quarry is older than that’.
He continued: ‘I understand that extraction ceased in 1996. In 2002, an application was submitted under section 74 of the 1997 Act which provides for the ‘Review of Old Minerals
Permissions’ (ROMP). ‘The review application, with an updated set of planning conditions, was approved by the council in 2002’.
Planning permission for quarrying, he said, could be ‘reactivated’ in line with conditions imposed in 2002.
The 1997 legislation also provides for a further review of old minerals permissions after 15 years and in 2018 review applications were made by Tillicoultry Quarries and Patersons.
Mr Liddell added: ‘The council’s best estimate for when these are likely to be determined is this summer. Therefore the principle of quarrying at the site, and of quarry vehicles using Polmaise Road, is already established.’
Patersons Quarries were contacted for comment.