Firm hit back at ‘scaremongering’ concerns over development safety
THE development company behind a controversial new leisure park in a former Staffordshire Moorlands quarry insist they have put measures in place to ensure “concerns of a mass landslip and tsunami wave are unfounded”.
Laver Leisure have reaffirmed their commitment to building the tourist attraction at Moneystone Quarry and said a rock rubble slope will be placed along the north side of quarry three to improve stability.
The pledge comes after campaign groups raised major concerns over the stability of the quarry – but the developers accused them of “scaremongering”.
In 2016, Laver Leisure was granted outline planning permission by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council to develop the former Moneystone Quarry near Whiston – the former home of WBB Minerals, who supplied silica sand to the glass industry.
Following a decision to close the quarry, the site was bought by Yorkshire-based Laver Leisure.
It is anticipated that the site, which will be known as Moneystone Park, would create around 250 full-time, permanent jobs, plus around 230 further jobs during construction.
Following the granting of outline permission, the company put in a detailed planning application more than a year ago, which as yet has not come before the planning committee.
The plan involves details for phase one of the leisure development comprising 190 lodges; a new hub (providing farm shop, gym, swimming pool, spa, restaurant, cafe, games room, and visitor centre), alterations to the office building; children’s play areas; multi-use games area; car parking; refuse and lighting arrangements; and managed footpaths, cycleways and bridleways. The development has always been strongly opposed by Kingsley Parish Council, Whiston Action Group and the Churnet Valley Conservation Society.
A joint statement by the latter two groups stated there are now serious issues regarding the stability of the quarry.
It said: “The application has run into serious technical issues which have resulted in the reserve matters application being delayed going to the planning committee for more than 12 months. There have been 48 separate changes to that original application since its submission.
“This means it no longer resembles the outline permission and the Churnet Valley Masterplan. Even more worrying in recent months, serious safety issues about the stability of quarry three have been raised.”
At a meeting of Kingsley Parish Council, it was also stated that the plan had run into technical issues.
Councillor John Steele said:
“Our objections are valid. There are more and more issues about stability.
“Churnet Valley Conservation Society has written to the chief executive of the Moorlands council regarding the stability issue.”
But Laver Leisure were disappointed the groups had chosen to ‘scaremonger’ people rather than speak to them directly and addressed the concerns over a potential landslide or tsunami.
Peter Swallow, of Laver Leisure, said: “There are no ‘serious technical issues’ and there have not been ‘48 separate changes’ to the reserved matters planning application.
“This planning application is entirely in accordance with the outline approval for the site and is completely in line with the Churnet Valley Masterplan.
“This is an important regeneration project that is expected to add an additional £1million of spending per year in local shops, restaurants and other services.” The planning application is due to be considered by the district council next month.
A council spokesperson said: “There have been several amendments to the application which has resulted in the submission of revised plans.
“Although the majority of the changes have been relatively small, amending one plan has a knock on effect on several others on a development of this size, hence the seemingly large number of revised plans submitted. All the plans are available to view on the council’s website.”