14 January 2014
Pooilvaaish Farm, Pooilvaaish, Castletown, Isle Of Man, IM9 4ph
The proposal sought to increase annual limestone extraction from 709 tonnes to 3,500 tonnes at the established Pooil Vaish quarry, allow off-site removal of overburden (up to 47,810 tonnes), enable campaign crushing and stockpiling, and include a restoration scheme turning the site into industrial archaeology with inte…
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Strategic Policy 4
Requires protection/enhancement of landscape/nature value esp. adjacent ASSIs, no unacceptable pollution/disturbance. Officer found proposal enhances landscape via site clearance, no ecology harm, but potential traffic disturbance to amenity.
General Policy 2
Permits development in line with zoning if no adverse landscape/wildlife/amenity/highway impacts. Site zoned for minerals; compliant on landscape/ecology but traffic intensification tested against amenity/road safety criteria.
Environment Policy 1
Protects countryside unless overriding national need/no alternative. Officer assessed traffic as potential adverse countryside effect; no overriding national need as reserves already in landbank, though dimension stone unique.
Environment Policy 4
Prohibits harm to ASSIs/protected species/habitats. DEFA no objection; quarry ops accommodate nesting birds; restoration enhances habitats.
Minerals Policy 1
Permits mineral working if need demonstrated, no unacceptable amenity/landscape/ecology/highway impacts, phased restoration. Need partial (unique stone but landbank satisfied); mitigations proposed for impacts; restoration scheme compliant.
do not oppose the application
no objection; supports restoration scheme; requests good housekeeping and limited extraction rate to protect monuments and landscape
do not oppose the application
no objection subject to traffic management scheme (lay-bys, temporary lights, single vehicle restriction)
support; confirms need for dimension/building stone; economic benefits from employment, royalties, exports; recommends phasing details and restoration bond
Private residents and their representatives object strongly to increased quarry traffic due to safety, noise, dust, vibration, and structural damage concerns; Manx National Heritage provides conditional comments on heritage and ecology without objection; Highways Division offers technical traffic management recommendations without formal objection.
Key concern: impacts on protected ancient monuments Close ny Chollagh and Chapel Hill from increased quarrying activity
Manx National Heritage
Conditional No ObjectionDevelopment will not be permitted which would damage, disturb or detract from an important archaeological site or an Ancient Monument or the setting thereof.; Manx National Heritage therefore supports the revision of the quarry restoration plan to allow natural recolonisation of the worked out quarry
Conditions requested: achieving and maintaining high standards of housekeeping within the quarry; setting a rate of extraction and removal from site which does not unduly affect safety and enjoyment of users of Pooil Vaaish Road; ensuring restoration scheme benefits visitor experience, habitat creation, geological interest and safety; consultation with local ecologists and geologists nearer the time; desirable management plan for habitat diversity
Highways Division
Conditional No Objection12 loads per day will result in 24 vehicle movements over a working day of 7½ hrs; this equates to 1 vehicle movement every 15 – 20 mins; if the quarry is restricted in a single vehicle then the risk of passing traffic will be significantly reduced
Conditions requested: restrict use to a single vehicle to prevent 2 large vehicles meeting; traffic counter at quarry entrance to collate number of vehicles and axles, with data submitted to relevant authority; part-time traffic signals and hard standing at either side of double bend where public highway available
