This Is Guernsey

By Joel de Woolfson

RONEZ’ plans to extend Les Vardes Quarry were determined by the quality of rock available to it. The company unveiled its plans to extend the quarry to the west yesterday as residents were given the opportunity to view the proposal and ask its representatives questions.

The Rural Area Plan designated 11 acres of fields to the west and north-west as a mineral-safe guarding zone, which protected the area from any other type of development.

Peter de Garis, Ronez director and general manager, said the company’s planned extension aimed to take up approximately half that area.

‘We have done the trial drilling to determine the value of rock available and we consider that this is the maximum area in order to be practical,’ he said.

‘We think it’s the best scheme because it takes in the practical process of extracting the rock, it’s the most practical shape for operating and it has given due consideration to the neighbours.

‘It has been governed by the rock available.’

Under the proposals, the top of the quarry would take in part of Haul Road and would provide about an extra 1.27 million tonnes of rock and extend the potential life of the quarry by eight years to 20.

Mr de Garis said the planned extension would be the maximum the company would ever wish to extend.

‘Going beyond the line we have set, the top rock goes very deep, so we would have to move very large volumes of overburden, which would not be financially viable,’ he said.

‘We would never want to use the rest of the area that Environment set aside in the Rural Area Plan.’

Mr de Garis said he believed the company had had a good relationship with people who lived near the quarry since it set up a liaison group two years ago.

‘We have kept them informed about our aspirations and plans for the extension,’ he said.

‘I hope everyone will support the plan because they have been kept informed. There will be no surprises for the local residents.

‘I think people are more concerned about what will happen after we have finished quarrying because it’s earmarked for future water-storage.’

The company is finishing an environmental impact assessment that it will submit to Environment by the end of the year.

The department will then consider its policy on mineral extraction and will hold a public site-specific planning inquiry.

‘We hope that that will happen by the middle of next year,’ added Mr de Garis.

‘At that stage, we will submit our full planning application and we would hope to be working in the new area by next year.

* Do you live near Les Vardes Quarry? Do you have a view on the extension?

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