Bid to extend life of 200 year old quarry in Welsh slate heartland
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Plans are in to extend the life of a 200-year-old quarry in North Wales. Ffestiniog Quarry (also known as Oakeley Quarry or Gloddfa Ganol Mine) is located in the heart of Blaenau Ffestiniog.
It has been producing slates from 1818 and was formed by the Ordovician slate beds laid down more than 470 million years ago. Under its current planning permission, work is set to end at the 160-hectare (ha) site at the end of this year.
But owner Breedon Trading Ltd wants to extend this by another 40 years. The working scheme is based on being able to produce 30,000 slates per week.
If planning permission is not secured from Cyngor Gwynedd, then the quarry would cease operations at the end of the year, resulting in a loss of employment.
Planning agent SLR said: 'The applicant is submitting a planning application for the continuation of slate extraction operations, together with the deposit of mineral wastes and overburden, along with the production of secondary aggregates, within the quarry workings beyond the current cessation date of 31st December 2025. Ffestiniog Quarry works the mudstone and siltstone slate deposits of the Nant Ffrancon Subgroup of the Ordovician succession.
'All superficial surface deposits (soils and overburden) have been removed; extraction operations involve the removal of slate from the working faces predominantly using blasting, and occasionally mechanical techniques.
'The development also involves the periodic clearing of slate waste from the quarry working area to expose the faces underneath.
'Notwithstanding this, as with other slate quarries (such as Penrhyn Quarry) slates suitable for producing roofing tiles are located lower in the sequence (i.e. deeper in the quarry workings).
'This means that the upper parts of the sequence (typically the first four benches) are classed as quarry waste and need to be cleared to expose the better-quality slate.
'The proposals would not seek to laterally extend either the slate workings or associated tips beyond the current approved footprint and operations would not exceed the current permitted level of intensity. Moreover, all tipping operations would be undertaken within the current operational areas either on the north-western side of the quarry or within the quarry void.
'Having reviewed the quarry development scheme, proposals are being put forward which show the phased progression of the quarry workings, and the disposal of quarry waste. This has shown that there are in excess of 100 years of slate resources within the quarry. However, the current application seeks to extend the duration for a period of 40 years.'
They added: 'Should planning permission not be granted then the quarry would cease operations at the end of the year resulting in the loss of employment. With a lack of other quarry operations in the local area, this would potentially see those employed at the quarry seeking employment elsewhere, potentially moving out of the local area.'
Planners at Cyngor Gwynedd will now consider the application. Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone
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