Owners of 200-year-old slate quarry bid to extend its life or warn jobs will be lost
Owners of 200-year-old slate quarry bid to extend its life or warn jobs will be lost
Ffestiniog Quarry is in the heart of Blaenau Ffestiniog and its owner estimates there remain 100 years worth of slate resources there
Ffestiniog Quarry (also known as Oakeley Quarry or Gloddfa Ganol Mine
Plans have been submitted 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 nestled in the heart of Blaenau Ffestiniog.
The quarry has been producing slates since 1818, formed by Ordovician slate beds laid down over 470 million years ago. Under its current planning permission, work at the 160-hectare site is due to finish at the end of this year.
Now owner Breedon Trading Ltd is hoping to extend this by another four decades. The proposed scheme is based on the ability to produce 30,000 slates per week. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
If planning permission isn't granted by Cyngor Gwynedd, it's stated that the quarry would cease operations at the end of the year, leading to job losses., , reports North Wales Live.
An aerial view of the quarry area
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.
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"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."
The document 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."
Officials at Gwynedd Council are set to review the planning application.
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