Planning approvals for slate quarrying have been granted for four sites and work can begin immediately.

The Department of Planning said the green light had been given to Rocky Heights Quarry off Lolly’s Well Road, Smith’s; 15 Farmer’s Lane, Warwick; 126 Harrington Sound Road, Smith’s; and 3 Farm Lane, Hamilton Parish.

Home Affairs Minister Michael Fahy announced yesterday that the advertisement period for planning applications involving proposals for quarrying operations would be waived for 30 days. This has cut the processing period from between five and six weeks to two days, according to the Ministry.

“I would once again like to thank those persons who have heard our call to operate private quarries in light of Fay and Gonzalo,” Mr Fahy said. “It is this Government’s priority to ensure that no one is left without a roof over their head as a result of the recent storms, which is why we have taken the steps we have this week to expedite the slate quarrying process.

“I would also like to thank the technical officers at the Department of Planning, who have worked tirelessly to quickly and diligently approve these applications, some in only a matter of hours.”

The approvals for quarrying have been granted for three months but an extension can be sought if there is a need for slate.

The consent granted is for planning permission only and an application for a building permit must be submitted within seven days of quarrying operations commencing.

Each quarrying operation must meet several conditions from the Department of Planning and Department of Environmental Protection over the use of a slate cutter.

Quarrying can take place only between 7am and 5pm Monday to Saturday and operation is restricted to the area on the site defined on the approved plans.

Operation must stop when the stocks of material extracted from the site have been completed.

A construction permit and operating licence for the slate cutter must be obtained from the Department of Environmental Protection.

Conditions placed on this include that its operation will not result in exhaust emissions adversely impacting on nearby residents, and that noise will be kept to a minimum.

Dust from any operation, open storage pile or disturbed surface area should not be visible in the atmosphere beyond the boundary of the premises.

Stone-cutting will not be undertaken at any other site than the approved one without prior written approval of the Environmental Authority.

When the plant is to be decommissioned, a closure plan shall be submitted in advance to the Department of Environmental Protection for their approval. This must detail the proposed timeframe and steps being taken to ensure that the site poses no threat to health, safety or the environment.

For more information, call the Department of Planning on 297-7756.