Councillors visit proposed quarry site near Lochmaben
They will discuss their findings at next Wednesday's meeting.
Councillors will visit a rock quarry site near Hightae this week to make their minds up over controversial development plans.
A group of elected members and council officials who sit on Dumfries and Galloway Council’s planning committee are scheduled to visit the rock quarry site on land at Cocket Hill on Friday.
Businessman Richard Nairn, who runs R D Nairn Construction, is seeking planning permission to kickstart quarrying work which he insists will boost the local economy, help address the region’s housing crisis, and support over 100 jobs directly and indirectly.
Mr Nairn previously told councillors that his Lochmaben-based construction firm employs 90 people directly, along with another 30 to 40 subcontractors, in the area.
However, the council received 23 letters of objection from residents in Hightae, who live just one mile from where the quarrying work would take place.
A decision is expected to be made at the planning committee on Wednesday, April 30, after councillors have seen the location first-hand.
Meanwhile, a new report to be tabled at the meeting states: “SEPA welcome (but do not require) the imposition of a condition for a water management plan.
“In the event that permission is granted, they would also recommend that the applicant contacts them directly to discuss licensing requirements
as they are likely to require a separate application for the operation to SEPA under Controlled Activities Regulations.”
The applicant attended the council’s planning committee in February in the hopes of persuading councillors to approve his planning permission for quarrying works. He argued that planning approval would help his business expand and would support the construction of more homes in the region.
Permission is also sought for creating an access track, installing two metre high screening, a hardstanding area for storage of materials, the siting of a ‘welfare facility’, installation of a temporary septic tank and soakaway, and other associated works.
Council planning case officer Graham Smith recommended that the development should be approved, subject to conditions around drilling operations, traffic plans, and safety provisions.