Another bid is being made to extend a quarry after the move was rejected this year.

Aggregate Industries says it is in the process of re-submitting a planning application to Dorset Council for an extension to Chard Junction quarry.

The extension - for the extraction of sand and gravel with progressive restoration - would cover 11 hectares of agricultural land at Westford Park Farm and will run over a seven year period, if approved.

Aggregate Industries says the extension would boost sand and gravel supplies and safeguard quarry jobs, and in turn provide work for hauliers and local suppliers.

The News reported in September how local residents had lodged objections to the firm's original plan saying it will be more visible and disruptive, will lose good agricultural land and be harmful to wildlife.

Councillors voted 6-3 in favour of rejecting the application. It was felt the adverse impact of the proposal on the environment - the site is within the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - outweighed the benefits.

The firm says it has listened to and addressed the reasons given for the refusal of the first application by Dorset Council and is committing to:

* No working at weekends and bank holidays

* Reducing the numbers of daily HGVs to and from the quarry to 30 loads

* Re-working soil storage areas to further reduce the visibility of the proposed extension

Chard Junction Quarry Manager Martin Selfe said: “This is an important project not just for the future of Chard Junction Quarry but for the wider local economy and we are very keen to bring people with us. As a business we are committed to applying the highest operational standards to this project as we do to our current operation at Chard Junction.

“The extension is critical to the continued production of sand and gravel at Chard Junction. With limited reserves of this type of material in the county, it will bolster local supply while avoiding the additional HGV mileage and emissions generated by importing material from alternative sources.”

The application will also detail how Aggregate Industries will work to preserve the local ecology, generating new, enhanced habitats while maintaining the existing nature reserve at the site.

Mr Selfe added: “We have worked – and will continue to work – to ensure we meet our environmental responsibilities and to leave behind a more biodiverse area than we started with.

“Our track record at Chard demonstrates our ability to work responsibly within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). We look forward to continuing this work to benefit our neighbours and leave a positive legacy.”