Permission has been granted for an extension to a sand and gravel quarry at Melville Gates Quarry, near Ladybank.
The application by Angle Park Sand and Gravel Co Ltd was granted approval by Fife Council’s north-east Fife planning committee.
The developer proposes to extract a reserve of 1.7 million tonnes of sand and gravel, with a production rate of between 100,000 and 300,000 tonnes of sand and gravel per annum, depending on market demand.
The longest extraction lifetime of the extension is up to 17 years, again depending on marketdemand. If market demand is at its highest, it is expected the quarry would be worked within six years.
Extraction would take place over four phases with a restoration programme returning the site to agriculture/woodland.
Howe of Fife councillor David MacDiarmid moved that a decision be deferred for a site visit. With a Scottish Government reporter’s decision on the neighbouring Kinloch Quarry publicinquiry appeal not due until the end of January, he expressed concern about the cumulative impact of the workings if they were both approved.
But with no seconder backing Mr MacDiarmid, the application for approval was approved.
Recommending approval, Fife Council planner James Wright said: “The proposal to extend an existing sand and gravel quarry is considered acceptable in meeting the terms of the development plan policies and national guidance.
“The proposal is also considered acceptable in terms of its proposed phasing and only minor impacts to residential amenity.
“The proposal would not cause any detrimental impacts in terms of road safety or other infrastructural facilities, as it is intended to operate as a continuation of the existing quarry rather than as a new or additional operation.
“The applicant proposes appropriate mitigating measures to enhance in the longer term the habitats available for protected species. The restoration would ultimately provide a return to the existing agricultural land use with an enhanced landscape and natural habitat characteristics.”