Controversial plans to extend the life of a Perthshire quarry have been kicked out by councillors.
Permission to extract sand and gravel from Glenquey Moss, Glendevon, was first granted in the 1960s but only a small amount of work has taken place since then.
Construction industry giant Cemex UK, which runs the 74-acre site at the foothills of the Ochils, applied to Perth and Kinross Council for extra time to progress production. Bosses had hoped to keep digging for minerals until 2035.
But following a deluge of objections, members of the local authority’s development management committee unanimously agreed to reject the proposal going against the recommendations of planning officers.
Councillor Ann Gaunt, who forfeited her right to vote on the plan when she opted to speak out against it, told the committee: “This original planning permission dates back to half a century ago, when the words sustainability, biodiversity and environmental impact were not even dreamt of.
“If this came to us with no history of consent, I would very much doubt we would approve it.”
A Cemex UK spokeswoman told councillors if the plan was rejected, the company would look at creating a quarry elsewhere in Perthshire. She said an appeal against the committee’s decision would be considered.
Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, had also voiced her opposition to the plan. Yesterday she said locals will be relieved. “It was clear from the outset that the vast majority of local people were against the quarry at Glenquey,” she said. “There were real concerns over the potential environmental impact and road safety concerns.”
Opponents said the quarry expansion could pose a road safety risk, with more HGV lorries using nearby roads. They also argued that the development would have a detrimental visual impact on the area, which attracts about 9,000 visitors a year.
Community councils from Auchterarder, Muckhart, Dollar and Fossoway lodged objections, alongside more than 100 residents. Neighbouring Clackmannanshire Council had also urged its counterpart in Perth and Kinross to throw out the plan.