Fury at quarry proposal
A PLAN to open a quarry at Glasdrum, Fasnacloich, on the Glen Creran Estate, has attracted 400 objections in just five days, campaigners say.
Argyll-based applicant A&L McCrae Ltd, which mines aggregates at Barrachander Quarry near Kilchrenan, lodged a planning application on October 31 for the ‘development of a quarry allowing for the extraction and processing of sand and gravel and the final restoration of land.
‘The proposed extraction will be undertaken over a period of five years and six months, an additional allowance of two years is made for site establishment and eight months for final restoration.’
Around 80 people packed Appin Village Hall on June 16 for a pre-application community council meeting, when all but four members of the public voted against the plan as proposed by A&L McCrae’s agent, Dalgleish Associates.
Last week a campaign website called www.quarryprotest.com was set up by Jackie and Tony Kersley, of Invercrean Lodge, Glen Creran, and other ‘residents of Glen Creran who love the glen and do not wish to see it ruined by an ugly quarry that will destroy the peace and quiet [and] harm the rare and protected wildlife that live here for the pursuit of profit’.
By Monday, in the five days since it went live, Mr Kersley said 400 objections had been lodged with Argyll and Bute Council via the website.
The website states that Glen Creran is designated as an area of panoramic beauty and ‘a red zone where no developments are allowed’.
It adds: ‘There are already a number of quarries that can provide the same materials. If the quarry is developed we estimate some 1,500 to 2,000 lorry movements per year on a road that is very narrow, with few passing places, and blind bends. The big increase in traffic of heavy trucks will also damage the narrow road and make it difficult and dangerous for everybody walking or cycling, including especially older people and children who would be at great risk.
‘Argyll is a huge area for tourism, this underpins many thousands of jobs and local businesses producing large amounts of income every year. Surely we must protect one of our most beautiful glens. Is a quarry and the profits of one landowner more important than the tourist industry and conservation?’ Mr Kersley told The Oban
Times: ‘ What it boils down to is money. We are all trying to stop the over-industrialisation of the glen. What does it say if you cannot protect one of the best glens in Scotland? If Glen Creran is not worth saving, what is? We are prepared to stand up.’
The campaign poster also stated: ‘ None of the concerns expressed at the meeting have been addressed satisfactorily and McCrae Ltd and the landowner, Dominique Collinet, have decided to ignore local opinion completely.’
Rob Latimer, a director of A&L McCrae’s agent Dalgleish Associates, responded: ‘ There have been limited adjustments to the scheme since the pre- application consultation event. There has been a slight reduction in the excavation area to ensure an appropriate stand- off is maintained from specific ecological sensitivities.
‘All aspects of the development have been assessed in detail and the majority of impacts on either the environment or amenity shall be either negligible or slight.
‘All of the issues raised by the local and wider community, during the pre-application consultation stage, have been addressed and it has been clearly demonstrated that there will be no significant impacts on Glen Creran or any of the designated sites.’
He added the quarry would address the ‘significant deficit’ of gravel and sand in Argyll and Bute, and reduce the need for long- distance HGV haulage.