Bellman Quarry reopens

"IN a move that will secure the future of cement-making in Lancashire’s Ribble valley, work has recommenced at Castle Cement’s Bellman Quarry, which had not been quarried since the 1980s. The reopening of the old site, which lies immediately to the south of Castle Cement’s existing Lanehead Quarry, comes some four years after Lancashire County Council approved a planning application to extract 30 million tonnes of limestone over a period of around 30 years."

"As well as providing a much-needed reserve, Bellman Quarry will supply a quality of material that was becoming harder to find at Lanehead. In future, the chemical balance needed for high-quality cement production will be achieved by blending stone from Lanehead with higher-grade material from Bellman."

"Initially, the quarry will be worked from the south-west to the north-east. This first phase is expected to last about 12 years. Stone will be carried to the existing Lanehead crushing plant using a private haul road within the site. Subsequent phases will involve the general widening of the quarry area towards its final boundaries. Work at the site will be closely monitored by the Bellman liaison committee."

"Progressive restoration will soften the quarry edges as work advances, however the long-term restoration plan for the site will see the creation of an attractive lake with cliffs, rock tumbles, a dry valley and gentle grassland slopes running down to the water’s edge between lengths of rock face, creating a range of valuable wildlife habitats."

"Part of the habitat-creation process has already started, with ecologists and earthmoving specialists working closely together to translocate flower-rich turf from the initial working area to a new area of valuable limestone grassland at Rydal Knoll. Elsewhere in and around the site, some 11,000 new trees have already been planted."