PLANS to extend the life of Dry Rigg Quarry, Helwith Bridge, near Horton-in-Ribblesdale, for another 20 years will be revealed at a public exhibition next month.

Tarmac, which in addition to Dry Rigg, also owns nearby Arcow Quarry and also Swinden Quarry, near Cracoe, is hoping to extend the life of the gritstone quarry beyond its current permission, which is due to expire in 2021.

The quarry, which is within the Yorkshire Dales National Park, produces gritstone, a nationally significant mineral principally used for road surfacing because of its grit-resistant properties.

The company, which hopes to submit a planning application to the national park authority next year, says it anticipates it will be for a lateral and deepening extension to the quarry, within its current boundaries.

This, it says, would mean an extension to the end of June, 2039, with restoration to be completed a year later.

Tarmac says it does not plan to change the way it extracts minerals from the quarry, to alter its processing activities, operating hours or road movements to and from the site off the B6479.

It also plans to submit a separate application for the temporary retention of the rail depot at Arcow Quarry to allow minerals to be transported from Dry Rigg by train to reduce the number of lorries on the surrounding roads, including Settle.

Matthew Pixton, estates manager at Tarmac, said:“As a company we have a long track record of operating in the Yorkshire Dales. We recognise the sensitivity of the area and appreciate that residents will be interested in what we are proposing to do. While we are not actually looking to submit a planning application until next year we have chosen to hold this public exhibition at this stage so that people can comment at the earliest opportunity. We very much hope to have a good turnout so that people can meet our team and comment on our initial proposals.”

The public consultation exhibition is due to take place at Dry Rigg Quarry on Monday, October 1 between 3pm and 7pm.