20 April 2004 · Independent Inspector (G. Farrington) - recommendation accepted upholding Planning Committee Review decision
Isle Of Government, Department Of Infrastructure, Poortown Quarry, Poortown, Peel, Isle Of Man, IM5 2an
The proposal by the Department of Transport sought to extend the existing Poortown Quarry into adjacent fields for extracting high-quality gabbro roadstone reserves, estimated to provide 43+ years of supply, with new access road off A20, replacement mixing plant, office relocation, water management system, and explosiv…
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The Inspector concluded there is an overriding national need for medium- to long-term supply of high-specification dolerite roadstone at Poortown, as no practical/desirable alternative exists on-islan…
Environment Policy 1
Prohibits developments adversely affecting countryside unless overriding national need outweighs protection; Inspector applied to AHLVCVSS, finding mineral need justifies extension with mitigation.
Minerals Policy 1 (Draft Strategic Plan)
Permits extraction where need demonstrated, no adverse landscape effects, phased restoration; national need for roadstone met, impacts minimised via EIA mitigations/conditions.
Time limit and notifications
Commence within 4 years; notify commencement date distinct from PA 95/1261; remove existing magazines within 12 months of commencement.
Phased extraction sequence
Work Field 2096 fully via 5-stage strategy before Rockmount fields; details of haul route and retain eastern slope to 120m contour.
Hours of working
Quarry face/machinery 08:00-16:00 Mon-Fri; coating plant to 18:00 Mon-Fri/13:00 Sat; exceptions for pumping/maintenance/emergencies.
Noise limits
Max 56 dB LAeq,1hr (free field) 1m from dwelling facades except temporary 70 dB; monitoring scheme required.
Blasting vibration/air overpressure
PPV 6mm/s in 95% blasts/12mm/s max; air overpressure scheme; monitoring at sensitive buildings/Giant's Grave.
Closure/restoration scheme
Submit within 2 years of cessation: plant removal, water management, reclamation or biodiversity restoration; implement within 3 years.
adequate mitigation proposed; national need outweighs impacts; extraction strategy works Field 2096 first
essential for Island's roadstone supply; environmental improvements via plant/access upgrades
Manx National Heritage raised concerns on visual, archaeological, and ecological impacts with recommendations for further surveys and mitigation; DAFF Wildlife and Conservation requested specific conditions for grassland, hedge, scrub, drain, pond, invertebrate, and bird mitigati…
Key concern: archaeological potential near Giant's Grave requiring further survey in Field 2098(2)
Manx National Heritage
Conditional No Objectionfurther investigation, to the same level of detail as that already undertaken, must be carried out across the whole of field 2098(2); it would be wholly inappropriate... if the Giant's Grave were to be left as an isolated promontory surrounded by an abandoned quarry; grassland creation and management should be part of a detailed methodology for wildlife conservation
Conditions requested: further archaeological investigation in Field 2098(2) to same standard as other fields; clarification on future exploitation of minerals under Giant's Grave and restoration; detailed methodology for wildlife conservation including inviolable habitat areas; address groundwater impacts on marshy grassland or clarify no impact; more substantial provisions for preventive action on groundwater reduction for ponds/drains; rescue and reintroduction of native bluebells to compensation areas
DAFF Wildlife and Conservation Office
Conditional No Objectionrecommend that compensation landscaping is included in areas that will not be destroyed in any future extension of the quarry; Common frogs and their places of refuge are protected by the Wildlife Act 1990
Conditions requested: plan for improved management of remaining grassland (late cut hay meadows); compensation landscaping in areas not destroyed in future quarry extensions; all mitigation measures for hedges, scrub, drains, invertebrates, birds included as conditions; detailed plan for pond protection from drying/silting including water source; restoration plans sympathetic to local wildlife compensating for habitat loss
Original application for extension of Poortown Quarry eastward into Fields 2096, 2098(1) and 2098(2) for gabbro extraction was approved by Planning Committee at Review on 19 July 2004 subject to 23 conditions, including Condition 3 requiring working of Field 2096 first and Condition 15 restricting hours. DoT appealed Condition 15; Mr & Mrs Frost appealed prematurity and conditions; Mr Kermode appealed explosives store relocation. Appellant (DoT) argued national need for high-spec roadstone, no alternatives, environmental mitigation via EIA. Inspector found overriding national need outweighed High Landscape Value impacts, rejected prematurity, accepted most arguments with mitigation, recommended approval with augmented conditions including phased landscaping, monitoring, extraction sequence and exit strategy.
Precedent Value
Demonstrates national infrastructure need (roadstone) can override High Landscape Value with proven no-alternatives, detailed EIA mitigation and strict conditions (phasing, monitoring, exit strategy); future applicants must frontload long-term planting and secure funding justification against prematurity claims.
Inspector: G. Arrington
