New ragstone quarry
A NEW ragstone quarry is currently being developed by Hanson Aggregates at Blaise Farm near Offham in Kent - the first time for several years that the company have created a new hard rock quarry on greenfield land.
The 280-acre site has total ragstone reserves of 35 million tonnes and will provide over 250,000 tonnes a year for local construction markets.
Bob Smith, Hanson's natural resources manager in the South-East, outlined the reasons behind the œ2.6 million development: 'Ragstone is one of the few hard stones available in the South-East and it is in great demand. Our existing quarry at Allington is nearing the end of its life so this new resource, with permission to quarry for 60 years, will take its place.
'Very few new stone quarries have opened from scratch in our lifetime so this has been a great experience for all of us.'
An in-house team has spent the last 15 years planning the Blaise Farm development. A 30m access road is currently being built and quarrying is due to begin in the autumn.
