A councillor claims a housing developer has been removing trees and vegetation at a quarry site despite planning permission for 204 homes being refused last year. Nottinghamshire County Council is now seeking to find a resolution to the matter.
Planning permission for 204 homes in Gregory Quarry, also known as Gregory's Quarry, in Mansfield was refused last year for fears over the impact on the environment. According to Historic England the quarry was used to mine limestone, for which the Mansfield area is noted for, and this stone was used during the Middle Ages for constructing religious buildings and in the 19th century on the Houses of Parliament.
The quarry has been vacant for several years, but is described as a "gem" by a conservation group. It borders the Quarry Lane Nature Reserve and it was decided the plans as they were submitted were unable to guarantee the protection of the important site.
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Others however argued the quarry had been tainted by anti-social behaviour and drug use. As a result Lee O’Connor, whose family operated the quarry for 20 years, said he had created plans for a sympathetic scheme to re-purpose the now redundant land.
His plans for 204 homes on the land, between the former quarry and the nearby Quarry Lane Nature Reserve, were brought before Mansfield councillors in July last year. They were refused.
Almost 400 objections were also received. Mr O'Connor has since appealed the decision and an inquiry will take place later this month.
Further concerns have since been raised by councillor Andre Camilleri, who represents Mansfield South for the Conservatives. He said: "As well as clearing the land on the disused Gregory’s Quarry site itself, the developer has also cleared vegetation and removed trees on land owned by Nottinghamshire County Council adjacent to the quarry, apparently assuming that they can use this land as an access route to their proposed housing development.
"This is not acceptable to the council and we are seeking a payment from the site owners to cover the cost of restoration work, which will be organised by Nottinghamshire County Council to our standards. Quarry Lane Nature Reserve and Mansfield Way is an important green space for the community used every day of the week."
Responding Sally Gill, the county council’s group manager for planning, told Nottinghamshire Live: “The council is aware of this issue, and of councillor Camilleri’s concerns, and we are currently in contact with the developer in order to find a resolution to the situation."
Mr O'Connor has appealed the decision to unanimously vote down the proposals. A public inquiry into the matter will commence on April 26 this year.
Mansfield District Council says: "This Inquiry is an appeal by Mr O’Connor, made against the council's decision to refuse outline planning permission for a residential development of up to 204 dwellings (with all matters reserved except access) with access off Quarry Lane and associated open space, landscaping and infrastructure works at Gregory Quarry, off Nottingham Road, Mansfield.
"The inquiry will open at 10am on Tuesday April 26, 2022 and is currently scheduled to sit for four days up to Friday, April 29 2022."
Nottinghamshire Live made attempts to make contact with the developer but no relevant contact information could be found.
