arcow quarry, north yorkshire - yorkshire dales national...

Arcow Quarry, North Yorkshire

Non Technical Summary

Planning applications for a railhead and associated development

December 2013

Lafarge Tarmac - Arcow Quarry: Applications for Planning Permission

ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT: NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY December 2013

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REVISION SCHEDULE

Rev Date Details Prepared by Reviewed by Approved by

0 December 2013

Final Ian Campbell

Principal Environmental Scientist

John Hollister

Head of Planning (Minerals and Waste)

John Hollister

Head of Planning (Minerals and Waste)

URS Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited Royal Court Basil Court Chesterfield Derbyshire S41 7SL



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TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................... 1

1.1 Summary of Applications ............................................... 1

1.2 Purpose of the Environmental Statement ..................... 1

2 SCHEME DESCRIPTION .................................................. 3 3 SUMMARY OF SCHEME ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 5

3.1 Landscape and Visual Effects ........................................ 5 3.2 Transportation .................................................................. 5

3.3 Air Quality ......................................................................... 6

3.4 Noise and Vibration ......................................................... 6

3.5 Biodiversity (Ecology) ..................................................... 7

3.6 Hydrology and Flood Risk .............................................. 7 3.7 Other Issues ..................................................................... 8

3.8 Afteruse and Access ....................................................... 8

3.9 Agricultural Soil Quality .................................................. 8

3.10 Cumulative and Combined Effects ................................ 9

4 CONCLUSIONS .............................................................. 11 FIGURES ......................................................................................... 13



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1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Summary of Applications

This document is a non-technical summary of the Environmental Statement (ES) submitted by Lafarge Tarmac in support of two planning applications to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) in its capacity as Mineral Planning Authority.

Lafarge Tarmac is the owner and operator of Arcow Quarry near Horton-in-Ribblesdale. The quarry is located some 7 km north of Settle, North Yorkshire in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Lafarge Tarmac also operates Dry Rigg Quarry located approximately 1 km to the south of Arcow Quarry.

In outline, the applications are:

• to construct and operate a railhead loading facility at Arcow Quarry to serve both Arcow Quarry and Dry Rigg Quarry; and

• to continue the operation of Arcow Quarry at variance to a number of conditions in the current planning permission.

Arcow Quarry has operated for many years producing mineral which naturally has a high Polished Stone Value (PSV). Mineral with these properties is only available from a limited number of sources nationally. The mineral produced at Arcow Quarry is predominantly used in the manufacture of asphalt in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and Lancashire. Dry Rigg Quarry also produces high PSV mineral aggregate predominantly used in the manufacture of asphalt which is distributed nationally due to its higher PSV and therefore greater resistance to polishing.

The first of the two applications is for planning permission to construct and operate the railhead at Arcow Quarry and to establish compensatory Great Crested Newt (GCN) habitat for existing habitat which will be lost as part of the development.

The second application is for planning permission under Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to continue the operation of Arcow Quarry at variance to Conditions 2, 3 and 16 attached to planning permission C/44/101C such that:

• the date for the restoration of the area occupied by the railhead is deferred until 31st December 2022, one year after mineral ceases to be brought to the railhead from Dry Rigg Quarry for onward transportation;

• the approved restoration scheme is updated to reflect minor amendments made to the final quarry bench design of 2010 to account for now completed quarry benches and the latest geotechnical advice for the remaining quarry development; and

• to allow mineral from Dry Rigg Quarry to be imported to Arcow Quarry by road for stockpiling and loading at the railhead.

1.2 Purpose of the Environmental Statement

This ES presents the findings from the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) undertaken in relation to the proposed development.

The purpose of the ES is to ensure that:

• relevant environmental issues are assessed appropriately;



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• potential environmental impacts, associated with either the construction, operational and aftercare phases of the proposed scheme, are identified, together with appropriate mitigation measures;

• the proposed mitigation measures will be effective and that they will ensure that any residual impacts are reduced to an acceptable degree;

• interested parties are given the opportunity to address any relevant issues.

A request for an EIA Scoping Opinion was submitted to the YDNPA on 11th June 2013. The opinion adopted by the Authority on 16th July 2013 confirmed that the main potential effects to be assessed in relation to the proposed scheme are:

• landscape and visual effects (during construction and operation of the railhead and after restoration - including the restoration landform, aftercare and management) on visual receptors including public rights of way;

• transportation;

• dust;

• noise;

• biodiversity (ecology); and

• hydrogeology, hydrology and drainage.



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2 SCHEME DESCRIPTION

The two planning applications are:

1. to construct and operate a railhead at Arcow Quarry and to establish compensatory GCN habitat for existing habitat which will be lost as part of the development; and

2. to continue the operation of the quarry at variance to a number of conditions in the current planning permission to allow deferment of restoration of the area occupied by the railhead, to update the approved restoration masterplan, and to allow mineral from Dry Rigg Quarry to be imported to Arcow Quarry by road for stockpiling and loading at the railhead.

The proposed railhead development will involve the construction of a loading area within the southern part of Arcow Quarry (in the current stockpiling yard) linked to the Settle-Carlisle Railway line by a siding. The siding will exit the quarry through a cutting cut through the screening bund around the current stockpiling yard.

The railhead is expected to be commissioned in 2015. The railhead will cease operation on completion of mineral extraction at Dry Rigg Quarry, i.e. by the end of 2021 and be restored within a year, i.e. by the end of 2022. Restoration will involve the removal of the railhead (including siding) and restoration in accordance with the approved restoration scheme for Arcow Quarry.



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3 SUMMARY OF SCHEME ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

3.1 Landscape and Visual Effects

Potential landscape and visual impacts, both adverse and beneficial, where appropriate, have been identified taking existing mitigation into account.

The landscape and visual effects of the scheme have been assessed at the following stages of the development:

• during railhead construction and operation;

• post restoration assuming 15 years of growth on trees/shrubs.

The significance of the proposed development on landscape character has been assessed by comparison of the sensitivity of the landscape with the magnitude of the landscape effects. The impacts on landscape character are considered to be of very low adverse magnitude during the operation of the railhead facility and very low adverse magnitude at year 15 post restoration. Overall it is assessed that the proposed development would be insignificant on landscape character during operation and insignificant post restoration.

The significance of the proposed development on visual amenity has been assessed by comparison of the sensitivity of the receptor with the magnitude of the visual impact. The range of magnitude of predicted adverse visual impact falls between none/very low adverse impacts to low adverse impact. The significance of visual impact is therefore assessed as ranging between none/negligible/slight for most locations but temporarily moderate for two locations on a Public Right of Way running adjacent to the quarry and across the railhead and within the settlement of Studfold.

3.2 Transportation

A Transportation Assessment has been undertaken which examines the suitability of the existing highway network to accommodate the proposed traffic flows in terms of highway capacity and safety.

In summary, the quarry access roads would experience an increase in HGV traffic transporting mineral for a short 4 month period between the construction of the railhead (Q1 2015) and Arcow Quarry ceasing mineral extraction at the end of June 2015. However this increase represents no change when compared to historic traffic movements permitted at Arcow Quarry prior to 2012.

Traffic movements further east of the Arcow Quarry access and on the B6479 and B6480 would reduce significantly as a result of the railhead development and legal agreements which restrict road haulage from both quarries.

Construction traffic associated with the railhead will be minimal, with the majority of construction material sourced from within the quarry. At the peak of construction activity no more than 10 additional specialist staff are forecast to be required on site each day.

No roads or accesses are forecast to experience an increase in traffic over existing 2013 traffic levels apart from the Arcow Quarry access road. Further afield a significant reduction along the B6479 and B6480 will be experienced due to current Section 106 Agreement road tonnage limits and the construction of the railhead. Traffic movements will further decrease after June 2015 when winning and working of mineral at Arcow Quarry ceases.



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There will be a negligible environmental effect due to the changes in traffic movements resulting from the railhead.

3.3 Air Quality

The principal airborne emissions that could potentially cause impacts beyond the site boundary are dust and fine particulate matter (PM10) from the construction and operation of the railhead and the deferred restoration activities. Other related emissions include PM10 and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from vehicle movements (HGVs and train engines) associated with the operational site.

An assessment of the dust and air quality issues associated with the construction and operation of a proposed railhead at Arcow Quarry, and the deferment of restoration of that section of the Quarry has been undertaken. The site has the potential to generate fugitive dust as a result of the construction and operation of the railhead, which would include the storage and handling potentially dusty mineral material. However, the concentrations of any airborne particulate matter generated would be controlled using existing and proposed management practices to the extent that any significant effects at the nearest sensitive receptors would be unlikely and would result in a minor effect at most.

Any impact on baseline dust deposition rates would be low under normal atmospheric conditions and would produce an insignificant effect. The existing control measures on the current site have a proven track record of negating effects associated with dust, as shown by a lack of complaints history relating to the existing quarry operations and baseline dust monitoring data. In the unlikely event that impacts do occur, it would most likely take the form of minor soiling of property surfaces which is not normally associated with a general risk to human health. Any deposits of this kind can be washed off the surface, making any impact reversible.

Overall, the effective implementation of measures detailed within the existing dust mitigation scheme will minimise any impacts on receptors to infrequent, short-term events of negligible to minor significance.

Adoption of the mitigation proposals (including site best practice) results in the conclusion that the risks associated with airborne emissions from the site are not significant.

3.4 Noise and Vibration

Background noise surveys at a number of locations around Arcow quarry have enabled a good understanding of the existing noise climate in the area, with and without the quarry operating.

In accordance with the NPPF Technical Guidance, operational noise limits have been determined at each of the closest receptor locations to the site.

Noise modelling software has enabled prediction of the noise propagation from quarry activities and simultaneous operation of the proposed railhead towards the closest noise sensitive receptor locations.

Worst-case predicted noise levels as a result of operational activities do not exceed the defined limits at any of the identified receptor locations. Predicted noise levels on the footbridge on footpath 28 are also considered acceptable.

Worst-case predicted noise levels as a result of occasional night-time (06:30 to 07:00) rail movements do not exceed 42 dB LAeq,1h at any of the identified receptor locations (including Foredale Cottages).



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3.5 Biodiversity (Ecology)

A study of the ecological interest and biodiversity of Arcow Quarry has been undertaken to assess the potential impacts of the proposals. The ecological value of the ecological receptors identified has been assessed and the ecological impacts of the proposals predicted. An assessment has then been made as to whether these predicted impacts will have a significant impact on the conservation status of ecological receptors identified. Where necessary, mitigation measures have been proposed. The ecological impact of these mitigation measures has also been assessed.

The principal ecological impacts relating to the construction and operation of the railhead and deferred restoration of the southern part of the quarry will be that:

• there will be no adverse impacts on SACs, SSSIs, Limestone Pavement Orders or Ancient Woodland Inventory Sites in the vicinity of the quarry;

• mitigation will ensure that no harm comes to either great crested newts or white-clawed crayfish which are both European Protected Species;

• there will be a positive impact upon UKBAP Priority Species great crested newt and common toad as a result of habitat creation;

• there will be a neutral impact on UKBAP Priority Species, including white-clawed crayfish, noctule bat, brown hare, juniper, Atlantic salmon, brown/sea trout and otter; and on the rivers, lowland fen, calcareous grassland, inland rock and scree habitat UKBAP Priority Habitats;

• impacts upon Yorkshire Dales National Park BAP Priority Species and Habitats is neutral.

3.6 Hydrology and Flood Risk

This assessment considers the existing flood risk posed to the site from all sources and the effect of the proposed works on flood risk, both to the site itself and elsewhere. The impacts of climate change on flood risk over the lifetime of the quarry site are also considered. In summary:

• The majority of the proposed railhead site is located in Flood Zone 1 and is therefore deemed at low risk of flooding from fluvial sources. A small area of agricultural land through which the proposed railhead passes is partially located in both Flood Zone 2 and Flood Zone 3 and is therefore considered to be at a higher risk of fluvial flooding.

• There are no alternative sites for the proposed development as the railhead development must be accessible for use by both Arcow Quarry and Dry Rigg Quarry and the requirement for the railhead to connect into the existing Settle and Carlisle Railway line, the site therefore passes the sequential test as there are no reasonably available alternative sites which are suitable for the proposed development in areas of lower flood risk.

• The existing flood risks from surface water flooding, groundwater sources and sewers is considered to be low.

• When water levels in the River Ribble are high the discharge of surface water from the settlement ponds is prevented and water backs up the ditch/ culvert and enters the site in the vicinity of the proposed railway sidings. However, as this source of flooding would be shallow, short term and localised to the area around the settlement ponds the site is considered to be of moderate risk of flooding.

• The construction of the loading pad and railway sidings from compacted quarry waste and railway ballast is not expected to increase the impermeable area within the site boundary. Drainage from the site will continue to drain as greenfield and to the site drainage system as



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the existing situation and surface water runoff rates to the River Ribble from this area will not change.

• No specific surface water mitigation measures are proposed as part of the Scheme as it is considered that the site will continue to utilise the existing discharge consent conditions. The proposed development therefore meets with the requirements of the NPPF as the volume of surface water runoff would not exceed existing run-off volumes to the River Ribble. Residual risks of flooding are associated with failure of the site’s surface water drainage system or exceedance of the systems design capacity.

3.7 Other Issues

3.7.1 General

This section presents summary assessments of those issues identified in the EIA Scoping Opinion adopted by the YDNPA which are to be assessed in brief in the ES, namely:

• effect of the development on any groundwater or surface water dependent abstractions and protected features; and

• after-use and access.

Issues relating to agricultural soil quality are also assessed in this section.

3.7.2 Abstractions

Potential impacts associated with quarrying operations at Arcow Quarry were assessed in the ES which accompanied planning application C/44/101C. This confirmed that potential impacts are mitigated by a continuation of good site management and pollution control measures. The assessment concluded that with mitigation the on-going operations would result in a resultant negligible effect on groundwater quality and flow associated abstractions and surface water quality and flow and associated abstractions. This will not change with the proposed railhead development and deferment of restoration

3.8 Afteruse and Access

The approved restoration masterplan is for the site to be restored to informal nature conservation access without access to the general public. However, Arcow Quarry is an important geological resource in terms of the strata and geological structures exposed and consequently the exposed faces in the west of the site are designated as a SSSI for their geological interest. The approved restoration scheme therefore includes works to make the site safe for controlled access for visitors wishing to view the geological exposures and associated structures. These works include the creation of designated paths in the base and along the eastern edge of the quarry with installation of interpretation boards at viewing points.

3.9 Agricultural Soil Quality

Soil management will be undertaken in accordance with the Defra Good Practice Guide for Handling Soils. Soil stripped will used on the embankment and cutting sides prior to planting. During restoration of the railhead and siding soil from the embankment and cutting will be stripped and temporarily stockpiled before being used to restore the footprint of the siding embankment. It follows that the proposed railhead development and deferment of restoration will conserve the soil resource in an appropriate manner.



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3.10 Cumulative and Combined Effects

3.10.1 Cumulative Effects

Cumulative impacts have been considered for: the railhead and deferment of restoration at Arcow Quarry and on-going operations at the Dry Rigg Quarry to the south and Horton Quarry to the north in relation to the assessments of:

• landscape and visual impact;

• traffic and transport;

• noise and vibration; and

• air quality.

No significant cumulative impacts have been identified.

3.10.2 Combined Effects

The EIA Regulations 2011 also require that interactions between various aspects of impact (combined impacts) should be considered in the assessment. This is accomplished by assessing how a particular type of effect (for example, an increase in noise) may become a source of impact that results in an effect to a different category of receptor. Assessment of combined impacts is discussed within individual ES Chapters. Examples of such assessments include the potential impacts on traffic, air quality and noise associated with construction and operation of the railhead.

Interactions between more than one type of impact experienced at a particular receptor (e.g. a receptor of noise and air quality impacts) are managed in the context of residual effects following mitigation. In the case of interactions between traffic, noise and air quality, potential impacts could be experienced simultaneously or intermittently. There is no direct connection between the effects, other than that both could cause annoyance, whether experienced separately or together. Mitigation of combined impacts is best achieved through management of construction or operation to prevent the individual impacts themselves and prevent such interactions occurring.



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4 CONCLUSIONS

The Environmental Impact Assessment contained within the Environmental Statement has involved a comprehensive assessment of the environmental implications of the construction and operation of the railhead and deferment of restoration of the railhead area at Arcow Quarry. If the mitigation measures defined therein are implemented, the assessment finds that residual effects are not likely to be significant.



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FIGURES

Figure AQ1 Site Location Plan

Figure AQ5 Railhead Scheme Application & Ownership Boundaries

Figure AQ6 Section 73 Application and Ownership Boundaries

Figure AQ7 Railhead Scheme Layout

Figure AQ14 Railhead Restoration Scheme

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