Bonnington Mains quarry denied permission to expand

A quarry in Edinburgh has been denied permission to expand over concerns about the impact on locals.

The Bonnington Mains quarry, which sits just south of the junction of the M8 and M9 in Newbridge, had applied for planning permission to expand in fields to the southwest.

Council officers recommended that planning permission be granted, but a majority of Edinburgh’s development sub committee voted against it.

Owned by construction materials firm Breedon, the quarry opened in the early 1990s, with a period of closure through the 2010s.

Bosses at the firm told councillors that they wanted to open a material recycling site on the premises, and use products from it to fill in the quarry when it closes.

But some locals said they did not believe their plans were feasible.

One objector told councillors: “We believe that this resource is best kept in the ground at this time. This will, for a historic amount of time, be a massive cavity in the ground.

“It will be restored some way by reclamation, but it will not be restored to farmland. We will not get this hole in the ground taken away.”

Respondents and councillors also raised concerns about the impact of the expanded quarry on the local area, as well as the increased road traffic it could cause.

Councillors eventually voted eight to three against approving the expansion of the quarry.

The decision stood in contrast to another one later in the day, where the same councillors approved the expansion of the Ravelrig quarry west of Balerno.

SNP councillor Neil Gardiner, who represents part of the area surrounding the quarry, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Following numerous local objections Ratho residents will be happy that the proposed quarry on the farm field next to Bonnington Mains Quarry was rejected at the Development Management Subcommittee. 

“This field is not identified for mineral extraction in the City Plan 2030 and has protections as a countryside area.

“The Ratho Community also has concerns about the current quarry.”

Edinburgh West MP Christine Jardine has welcomed the rejection of controversial plans to extend a quarry close to a rural community on the edge of the city. 

Owners of Bonnington quarry near Ratho had proposed to expand extraction operations significantly,  increasing blasting, and activity on a site already close to residential areas and sensitive environmental features. 

But nearby residents had complained about the impact increased blasting it would have on traffic, noise and the surrounding environment. 

Ms Jardine, who has long supported the community’s campaign said: “I am absolutely delighted for the people in Ratho that this proposals has been turned down. 

“So many of them had expressed their fears not just about the impact that the blasting would have on their own quality of life, but about the environmental impact it would have. 

“There were also questions about how regulations surrounding the operations at the quarry could be followed if it went ahead, and its proximity to a major gas mains. 

“This will be a huge relief for so many people.” 

By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter