Extraction plan is backed by council

By Gordon Berry at the Courier

A PLANNING application, which involves the extraction of around one million tonnes of sand and gravel, has been given the backing of officials from Fife Council.

The plans, from Angle Park Sand and Gravel, have run into strong opposition from Ladybank Community Council and the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, and approval would lead to the felling of woodland which provides a home for red squirrels and bats.

The application, which has attracted over 30 objections, involves a 58-hectare site to the east of the main A92 Dundee to Kirkcaldy road near Melville Lodges roundabout.

It is to be considered later this week by Fife Council’s north-east Fife area committee, and involves an extension to operations at Melville Gates.

In addition to Forestry Commission owned North Annsmuir Wood the site includes two fields of prime agricultural land and has a right of way running through it.

In a report to the committee planning official Chris Smith states that the extraction period would last for six and a half years, and there would then be a one-year restoration period.

The extension, he said, would use the existing processing plant, which would be relocated from within the boundaries of the existing quarry site.

Mr Smith added that operations at the site provide gravel to significant construction projects in east and west Fife, with the remaining 25% going to the central belt of Scotland.

At the end of the work there would be transfer of ownership of 14 hectares of land located on the north side of Pitlessie Road to Forestry Commission Scotland for the development of new community woodland.

The official said that the principle is considered acceptable, as extraction would be located in an area identified for sand and gravel extraction immediately adjacent to a recently-excavated site mining the same resource.

Mr Smith said that the applicants have carried out various species surveys, which show that protected species, such as red squirrels and bats, have been recorded in the 50-60 year old woodland to be felled.

Felling would occur outwith the bird and squirrel breeding seasons, and another wooded area, which would provide a suitable habitat for red squirrels, has been identified.

Fife Coast and Countryside Trust has claimed that the proposed mitigating measures fall short of protecting the ecology of area, and the body is also concerned about the impact of the bats and squirrels.

Ladybank Community Council has raised a number of issues, including lack of consultation, the environmental impact of forest operations, road safety, and noise.

The community council is also concerned about impact on the water table, wildlife and an international resource, and lack of contribution to the community.

Mr Smith has concluded that the proposal is acceptable in terms of the development plan, would be compatible with surrounding land uses, and would not impact on the landscape character of the area.

He added that the site provides a “location limited” important economic resource to Fife and Central Scotland

Ladybank Community Council (LCC) has called on Fife Council to reject Angle Park Sand & Gravel Co Ltd's proposed quarry expansion application, saying more consultation and investigation of environmental impact is needed.

Angle Park want to expand their existing quarry at Melville Gates into agricultural land and part of North Annsmuir Wood. The proposal has attracted objections from local residents, SNH and Fife Coast & Countryside Trust.

LCC said the application should be considered a new project rather than as extension, since more than 50% of the land was managed by the Forestry Commission and more than 75% of production would come from current woodland.

Secretary David Croll said Angle Park's consultation had been inadequate with residents of nearby Annsmuir Park Homes being, 'woefully under-informed' about what was planned.

The community council felt the environmental impact of the forest operations had not been duly considered or detailed and urged rejection of the plan "unless and until and adequate consultative and environmental impact process has been carried out."

Taken from the Fife Herald Mon 3rd Oct

Residents blast Ladybank quarry expansion

Fife Today

Published Date: 26 September 2008

By Janet Howie

THE planned expansion of a quarry in Ladybank into woodland has caused anger among nearby residents. The proposal has also raised fears it could have a "catastrophic" impact on the habitat of the local red squirrel population.
Angle Park Sand and Gravel Company Ltd. wants to expand its existing quarry at Melville Gates into agricultural land and part of North Annsmuir Wood, a long-standing proposal that dates back to 2005.

The company intends to extract 975,000 tonnes of sand and gravel over a period of six and a half years, with another year required for restoration.

The company's planning application has been opposed by many residents of nearby Annsmuir Park, who feel left out of the consultation and concerned about the potential noise, dust and loss of woodland arising from the project.

Fife Coast and Countryside Trust has also condemned the plan, saying it would have "a serious and detrimental impact on the ecological assets of the North Annsmuir Woods and surrounding environs".

But Angle Park has emphasised any tree felling would be carried out gradually under the responsibility of the Forestry Commission, which owns the land, and restored through replanting afterwards.

In addition, if the application was granted, the company would transfer the ownership of 14 hectares of land east of Ladybank to the Forestry Commission with the aim of developing a new community woodland.

Annsmuir Residents Association secretary Libby Thorman said a petition against the quarry expansion had attracted 600 signatures and the 100 park residents — many retired and almost all in permanent homes — did not want the increase in noise and traffic that would result from the works.

"We moved up there for peace and quiet, not to have a motorway next to us," she said.

Miss Thorman claimed there had been a lack of consultation with park residents by Angle Park and agents Dalgleish Associates, saying a meeting that was held did not address their concerns.

"This is our home, but they don't seem to care," she said.

Fife Coast and Countryside Trust manager Amanda McFarlane said the proposed measures to minimise or offset the expansion's environmental impact "fall well short of what is required to protect the ecological assets of the site".

"It is not possible to clearfell the area without displacing the resident bat and red squirrel populations through catastrophic loss of habitat and disturbance," she wrote in her objection.

Angle Park Sand and Gravel Company Ltd. is a family-run business that has supplied sand and gravel to the Fife market since 1961.

Director Ian Cuthbert said the nature of the quarry business meant working through and then restoring areas by replanting, with the sand and gravel being needed for house building work as well as civil projects such as hospitals, schools and roads.

"Do people want a local sand pit or want to haul it from further away? The reason I'm here is that people need it," he told the Fife Herald.

Mr Cuthbert said Angle Park felt confident it could restore the site adequately and planned to replant mainly with Scots Pine, a preferred habitat for red squirrels.

His son and quarry manager Peter Cuthbert said the company understood people might be apprehensive about the loss of woodland, but felt there could be "a net gain" for the community in the long term through the transfer of 14 hectares to the Forestry Commission.

Fife Today