Peak District National Park bosses are keeping up pressure for Government support in their efforts to end "harmful" quarrying at Backdale, Longstone Edge, which they say is of national significance.

Authority chair Tony Hams told a public meeting last week of nearly 200 people that a delegation will be highlighting their case to recently-appointed rural affairs minister Barry Gardiner MP on October 16.

Mr Hams said: "It's clear that there's still a huge amount of public concern locally about quarrying problems on Longstone Edge.

"This only strengthens our resolve to keep up the pressure at the highest level."

A stop notice was served on the quarry's operations in January, because in the authority's view, limestone removal was going beyond the scope of the planning permission and doing irreparable damage to the landscape.

The Peak Park's planning committee chair Narendra Bajaria, said the Government must recognise the detrimental environmental impact of large quarries in national parks.

He added: "This is not just a local issue, it is of national importance.

"The Authority is pursuing every avenue to press the case, and work together for a permanent solution."

A date has been set in February for a public inquiry on the issues at Longstone Edge.

Quarry operators MMC Mineral Processing began work at nearby Wager's Flat after a stop notice was served at Backdale.

The authority believes these operations to be lawful, but it is continuing to monitor activity there.

Story by Richard Woolley

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