CONTROVERSIAL plans to increase the landfill waste at Fletcher Bank Quarry in Ramsbottom have been approved.

Peel Environmental was granted permission to increase the height of inert infilling in the northern part of the quarry, which currently stands at around 212 metres, by Bury Council’s planning committee.

The proposals will involve 950,000 cubic metres of waste being imported to the site, at a rate of 100,000 cubic metres a year. The work would be completed by 2036, and restoration work to the site to return it to grassland and woodland would be completed by 2038.

The plans had attracted opposition from the local community, with 661 people formally objecting to the proposals, and dozens of people attended Tuesday’s committee meeting.

Opponents say that there will be around 24,000 vehicle movements around the site each year, which will cause dirt and dust to be dispersed on roads and houses in the area.

Cllr Ian Bevan claimed that the traffic data used for the plans was out of date and that air quality data used was flawed. He said: “Residents know that the current infill is nearing an end; the hole in the ground is full.

“They were looking forward to having a quieter and cleaner environment with the quarry restored to its former glory, on the Pennine hills and in the greenbelt.

“Yet they have been handed a planning application for landfill which has been dressed up as a green environmental scheme.”

Peel was previously granted planning permission by Bury Council in 2006 to extend the quarry, on condition that it was completed by 2036.

Planning officers recommended that the committee approve the plans with conditions, as they “would not have an unacceptable impact” on residents.

Kieran Tames, Development Surveyor at Peel Environmental, said: “We’re pleased that the planning committee decided to approve the application in line with the planning officer’s recommendation.

“We look forward to completing the restoration of the northern part of the quarry delivering the landscape, biodiversity and amenity benefits of the scheme.”

Peel has also applied to Bury Council to build an anaerobic digestion plant at the Fletcher Bank Quarry site, with a decision expected to be made at a meeting on November 12.