Goostrey quarry set for green light despite 800 objections

Plans by Sibelco to extract 3.3 million tons of industrial sand from a site near Goostrey have been recommended for approval, despite the project receiving nearly 800 letters of objection.

The 180-acre site is across two parcels of land either side of New Platt Lane, with the council considering the application for an 81-acre portion of the wider development. The remainder of the site falls within the boundaries of Cheshire East Council, which earlier this year signalled its intention to allow the project to go ahead.

The sand is proposed to be extracted by dredging to a depth of 4.5m on the site and would involve sand and other material being extracted via a small boat and then pumped through a pipeline to a processing plant north of New Platt Lane.

The extraction would take place over 12 phases, with each phase operating for approximately one year. The 16.4m high processing plant would use site pumped water to wash the sand and remove small amounts of clay and silt.

The site is expected to handle around 130 truck journeys each day, and Sibelco is proposing to improve New Platt Lane from the junction with the A50 to its new plant site entrance. Much of the sand that is extracted will replace demand from the company’s Dingle Bank Quarry on Holmes Chapel Road, Macclesfield, which is due to be decomissioned by 2020.

Planners have recommended the project for approval despite it receiving 797 objections out of a total of 1,027 letters and representations. Objections included concerns over loss of local wildlife, impact on trees and watercourses.

Sibelco said the site would be restored to a lake, fields, hedgerows and woodland once the extraction was complete.

Cheshire West & Chester’s planning committee will meet on 21 June.