Mootlaw Quarry Minerals and Waste Site Monitoring Report

Inspection Date: 7 June 2013 Report Reference: MOOT13/14 - 01

Tel: 01670 622 632 E-mail: planning@northumberland.gov.uk

Strategic and Urban Development Management Team Local Services

Northumberland County Council County Hall, Morpeth

Northumberland NE61 2EF

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Mootlaw Quarry Site Profile

Site Details

Site Address

Mootlaw Quarry Matfen Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE20 0SG

Grid Reference: NZ 021 748 Total Area: 150 Ha

Operator North Tyne Roadstone Limited Contact

Paul Charlton; 01661 886222

Location Mootlaw Quarry is located approximately 2.5 kilometres to the north of Matfen between the villages of Ryal, Ingoe and Kirkheaton. Carboniferous limestone is extracted from the site.

Method of Working Extraction of limestone was taking place to the eastern phases of the site from a single bench when it was last operational in early 2010. Limestone is blasted from the face to achieve initial fragmentation and limestone is then extracted and processed through a series of crushers and screens to produce a range of sizes for the construction industry and exported from the site.

Restoration The planning permission requires the site to be restored to a mixture of agriculture, woodland, lakes and species rich grassland. In terms of restoration a large section of land has been restored to an agricultural end-use and includes enclosures 2, 3 and 4 and these have completed the formal 5 year aftercare period in Autumn 2011, having been used by the landowner for the grazing of sheep prior to the commencement date. Enclosure 1 was entered into the formal 5 year aftercare period from the autumn 2008 and has now been formally released from aftercare. The planning permission requires the site to be completed and restored by 31 December 2014.

Relevant Planning History Planning permission Date granted Description

91/D/514 September 1997 7ha extension to east

and 26 Ha extension to the north.

95/CC/68 August 1997 Private road to allow

quarry traffic to bypass Matfen.

13/01799/NONMAT

Under consideration Revision to restoration

scheme.

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Site Report

Site Operations and Access The site visit was to undertake a monitoring site visit. No site operations were ongoing and no plant was present. The site access remains in good condition with no debris observed on the highway. The access is stopped up with large boulders to limit unauthorised access. The site access is a linear vehicle access travelling from the main entrance to the site offices and into the wider site area. It was stated by JN that fly-tipping had taken place in an area adjacent to the access road into the site and this needs to be cleared from site in its entirety. Site Access and Highways Site entrance in an acceptable condition (Y/N) Site entrance

stopped up by blocks of stone

Site sign displayed clearly at site entrance (Y/N) Y Lorries exiting site are sheeted (Y/N) n/a Vehicle movement log checked and satisfactory n/a Process Plant and Stocking Area Process plant in operation (Y/N) N Any changes or problems in the area (Y/N) Substantial stocks

and stored soils submerged in water-

bodies

Site Visit Summary

Attendees: Joe Nugent (NCC) Tom Brown (Hanson) Georgina Watkins (Hanson)

Type of Visit: Announced Planning Permission: 91/D/514 and 95/CC/68 Time on site: 11:15 Time off site: 12:45 Weather Conditions: Clear with low wind. Temperature 140c. Inspection Type: Site Monitoring Meeting

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Site Offices and Service Area Having accessed the site and travelled toward the location of the site offices and service area this area remains unused and the site offices are securely closed in order to restrict unauthorised access. Adjacent to the offices is a flow of water sourced from the rear of the offices and which has a significant appearance of including particulates of iron oxide (Fe2O3) as illustrated in Image 1, 2, and 3.

Image 1: View of offices with water flow

Image 2: View from the offices toward the site entrance

and the extent of the water flow

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Image 3: View of the perceived source of the water flow

including the appearance of iron oxide It was stated by JN to the representatives of Hanson that this water appears to have levels of suspended solids and iron oxide and in terms of unmanaged polluted water this requires investigation and mitigation. This is an action point within this report.

Image 4: View of the office and operational area

north of the offices shown in Image 1.

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Water Management It was documented in previous inspection reports there is a vast body of water present in the northern void of the quarry and that this water has encroached along the haul road and encircled soil storage mounds potentially adversely affecting their future use in restoring the site.

Image 5: View water body in the northern part of the site viewed from the south.

Soil mounds viewed in the middle distance. Surface water has remained as a significant matter and remains stated and detailed within recent and historic monitoring reports. Regular monitoring of water levels in the operational area and any unmanaged surface water should be monitored to ensure accordance with the planning permission and approved plans.

Image 6: View water body in the eastern part of the site viewed from the southwest.

Large stones provide a boundary to the edge of the void and lifebelts are present in proximity to the waterbody.

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Footpath The public footpath which crosses through the centre of the site in an east/west direction continues to be protected by a bund and large rocks from the north and south. Weed Control The previous monitoring report noted that soil mounds to the east of the internal haul road had an excessive amount of Nettle and Thistle present. During the site visit the site was considered to be acceptable in terms of weed management with no specific areas requiring immediate attention. The operator is required to accord with Condition 17 and will be required to provide an update the Mineral Planning Authority that effective weed control has been duly carried out during summer 2013. Restoration The planning permission requires that the site is restored by no later than 31 January 2014. It is recognised that mineral extraction is significantly behind the anticipated phasing due to the site being mothballed. The operator has submitted a planning application seeking for a revised restoration scheme for the site (13/01799/NONMAT). This application will be determined in accordance with standard procedures and will inform the forthcoming monitoring report.

Actions

Condition

Action

Timescale

2

A written report providing an update as to the current water levels and water volume in all voids is required including a scheme for the

continued monitoring and management of the large water bodies present within the site.

30 September 2013

32, 34 Written update required as to the physical

condition and functionality of the lagoons at the site.

31 August 2013

32, 34

Provide a written update to the MPA in terms of the surface water noted within this report

adjacent to the site offices and provide written confirmation that this has been effectively

treated.

31 August 2013

Removal of fly-tipped debris adjacent to the access road into the site. 31 August 2013

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Report sign off

Inspecting Officer: Name:

Joe Nugent

Date:

28 June 2013

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Mootlaw Quarry

Conditions and Compliance

Planning Permission Reference 91/D/514

Condition Summary of Condition Compliance

(Yes/No) GENERAL

1 Completion of extraction and restoration by 31 December 2014

N/A

2 Site worked in accordance with approved plans.

N

3 Copy of permission and approved plans to be kept on site.

Y

4 Site notice board maintained at entrance.

Y

5 Notice board providing instructions to lorry drivers.

Y

6 Early site closure notice

N/A

7 Establishment of Liaison Committee to meet every year.

Y

8 Prior approval of MPA of any further buildings, fixed plant or machinery

Y

SITE WORKINGS - SOIL STRIPPING

9 Soils, prevention of spread of plant or animal diseases

N/A

10 Prior to soil stripping – ditches and drainage

N/A

11 MPA notification of any intended soil stripping

N/A

12 Topsoil stripping - all available to be stripped

N/A

13 Topsoil stripping - opportunity to inspect no 12

N/A

14 Subsoil or similar materials stripping

N/A

15 Soil stripping - dry and friable conditions

N/A

SITE WORKINGS - SOIL STORAGE

16 Soil storage in separate mounds

17 All soil mounds grass seeded and weed control

18 Soils reconciliation

SITE WORKINGS - HOURS OF OPERATION

19 Max. hours of operation permitted

N/A

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SITE WORKINGS - TRANSPORT

20 Lorry numbers

N/A

21 Site record of lorry numbers

N/A

22 Sheeting and cleaning of wheels and bodies of lorries

N/A

SITE WORKINGS - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION – NOISE

23 Noise limits

N/A

24 Noise limits in accord with approved scheme

N/A

25 Noise monitoring scheme – monitoring min. twice per year

N/A

26 Noise limits exceedance

N/A

SITE WORKINGS - BLASTING

27 Blasting scheme

N/A

28 Blasting limits – ppv

N/A

29 Blasting limts – ppv

N/A

30 Blast monitoring scheme

N/A

SITE WORKINGS - DUST

31 Scheme and measures for suppression of dust

N/A

SITE WORKINGS - WATER SUPPLIES

32 Scheme for monitoring water supplies

N

SITE WORKINGS - ARCHAEOLOGY

33 Archaeological scheme

N/A

SITE WORKINGS - DRAINAGE AND WATER POLLUTION

34 Approved settlement lagoons

N

35 Maintenance of settlement lagoons

N

36 Oil, petrol etc stored on site – impervious bunding or enclosure

N/A

SITE WORKINGS - SITE MAINTENANCE

37 Fencing, maintenance of settlement lagoons, weed control

Y

RESTORATION - REMOVAL OF SETTLEMENT LAGOONS

38 Satisfactory removal of settlement lagoons during restoration

N/A

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RESTORATION - REPLACEMENT OF OVERBURDEN

39 Overburden levels

N/A

40 Grading and levelling of overburden

N/A

41 Inspection of overburden prior to subsoil spreading

N/A

RESTORATION -REPLACEMENT OF SUBSOIL

42 Scarified surface prior to subsoil placement

N/A

43 Spreading of subsoil or soil making material

N/A

44 Rooting and stone picking

N/A

45 Rooting of non excavated subsoil

N/A

46 Inspection of stages within cond. 44 & 45

N/A

47 Grading after cond. 44 & 48 – conform with approved rest. Contours

N/A

RESTORATION - REPLACEMENT OF TOPSOIL

48 Topsoil replacement, dry & friable, seeding and cult. by end of Sept

N/A

49 Replace topsoil in accord with soils strategy and contours

N/A

50 Inspection of topsoil

N/A

51 Completion plan following topsoil replacement

N/A

AFTERCARE

52 5 year effective aftercare management

Y

AFTERCARE - ANNUAL REVIEW

53 Annual aftercare report

Y

54 Annual aftercare meeting

Y

AFTERCARE - CULTIVATION AFTER TOPSOIL REPLACEMENT

55 Subsoiling after topsoil completion

Y

56 Cultivations to prepare suitable seedbed

Y

57 Sow to short-term grass seed mix by end of Sept

Y

58 Alternative to cond 57, due to poor weather

Y

AFTERCARE - PROVISION OF SURFACE FEATURES

59 Planting of hedges and trees

2008/09 planting season

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60 Stone walls

Some works to stone wall 2011

AFTERCARE - DRAINAGE AND WATER SUPPLY

61 Temp drainage for erosion, flooding, etc

Y

62 Field water supply

Installed in completed fields

AFTERCARE - ESTABLISHMENT & MAINTENANCE OF GRASS

SWARD

63 Soil testing, applications following testing, reseeding, weed control & no vehicles, machinery or stock permitted Nov-March

Y

AFTERCARE - CONSERVATION &/OR AMENITY AREAS

64 Spec. & programme for areas of conservation &/or amenity

Detailed with restoration scheme

AFTERCARE - MAINTENANCE OF HEDGES & TREES

65 Maintenance of hedges & trees during a/c period

Y

AFTERCARE - GENERAL RESTORATION AND AFTERCARE

66 No soil stripping or rest. Oct-March, without approval of MPA

Y

67 Completion report at the end of the aftercare period

Y

68 Variation to agreed works

Y

69 All works in accordance with Good Agricultural Practice

Y