MORE than 170 lorries a day could be using the roads around Ramsbottom if Fletcher Bank Quarry at Shuttleworth is turned into a dumping ground.

And if Biffa Waste Ltd get their way the quarry will be operating 11 hours a day, five-and-a-half days a week, starting next year.

Detailed figures have been revealed by the company in a bid to scotch what they say are exaggerated claims made about traffic movements by campaigners from RALF (Ramsbottom Against Landfill). But it is unlikely that residents will be reassured!

The Bury Times had invited Mr John Ablitt, business development manager for Biffa, and Mrs Sue Gregory, chairman of RALF, to meet to try and resolve their differences before councillors vote on the plan for the quarry off Whalley Road. Mrs Gregory declined on behalf of RALF, who felt such a meeting would not achieve anything. The planning decision will be made jointly between Bury Council and Lancashire County Council.

RALF have claimed that the 15-year plan would mean up to 450 lorries a day causing gridlock, creating a health hazard and threatening road safety.

Dismissing RALF's claims Mr Ablitt insisted: "The maximum number of lorries visiting the quarry during the first seven years of operation would be around 177, that's 354 journeys in and out. And the minimum number of lorries could be as low as 106, or 212 journeys in and out." In addition, 30-60 HGVs would deliver engineering plant during six weeks of each year. According to Mr Ablitt, 75 per cent of traffic would leave the M66 at Junction 1, off Walmersley Road, Bury, and travel north, and the rest would travel south from the Stubbins run-off. Only one lorry in 10 would use town centre roads in Ramsbottom - no more than at present, he claimed.

The trucks would be carrying household rubbish, industrial waste, commercial waste and "special" waste - such things as paint tins - from Bury, northern Greater Manchester, and Rossendale.

Hours of work being applied for are 7am-6pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Mr Ablitt says Biffa want to widen the section of Whalley Road outside the entrance to the quarry to create a third lane for turning lorries, to minimise traffic hold-ups.

"There have been concerns about the nature of waste to be tipped but it would all need to accord to the rigorous requirements of the Environment Agency," stressed Mr Ablitt, adding that radio active material, bulk liquid or BSE-infected carcasses would not be dumped.

"We will be governed by the Environment Agency who have the power to revoke our licence if we do not meet the strict standards imposed. Over the last 10 years laws governing landfill have been tightened-up significantly. Our operation would simply be closed down if we created the kind of problems RALF suggest. And that would not be in our interest."

Biffa would be responsible for monitoring gas levels during the contract period and accountable for any problems arising for at least 20 years after the landfill site has been restored.

Mr Ablitt concluded: "I understand the concerns of residents. But waste is a part of life and the Government is keen to see local waste disposed of closer to where it is created, rather than sent elsewhere."

ROSSENDALE Council has recommended refusal of the application.

On Wednesday councillors accepted officers' recommendations. Their views will be passed on to Lancashire County Council.

Planning officers said that the application did not take into account a recent ten-year extension to tipping at Pilsworth or the recent approval of a new site at Radcliffe.

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