Quarrying on Longstone Edge
House of Lords Update - 25 June 2009
The Peak District National Park Authority is delighted that the House of Lords has refused to hear an appeal against its enforcement action at Backdale quarry on Longstone Edge.
This is likely to be the end of long-running legal action over excessive limestone extraction at the quarry, which damages the landscape of the national park and in the Authority’s view contravenes planning permission.
In March 2009 the Court of Appeal restored the decision of a Planning Inspector to uphold the Authority’s enforcement action, but the landowner, Bleaklow Industries Ltd, then requested permission to appeal to the House of Lords.
On June 24 2009 three law lords have turned down the request, stating: “Permission is refused because the petition does not raise an arguable point of law of general public importance which ought to be considered by the House at this time, bearing in mind that the cause has already been the subject of judicial decision and reviewed on appeal.”
History
The
National Park Authority wants to stop damage to Longstone Edge by alleged unauthorised
limestone quarrying.
The Authority
is fighting its case
through enforcement notices, public inquiries and appeals because of the harm it causes to the protected
landscape.
Activities at two sites on Longstone Edge are currently subject to dispute: they are Backdale and Wagers Flat.
A 2007 public inquiry upheld the Authority's enforcement notice at Backdale.
But an appeal in the High Court (February 2008) by landowner Bleaklow Industries Ltd was allowed.
The judge did not accept the Planning Inspector's decision, and did not agree with either the Inspector's or the National Park Authority's interpretation of the original 1952 planning permission.
Written transcript of 2008 judgement
(140KB) 
The Peak District National Park Authority appealed against the 2008 decision at the Court of Appeal on 10 - 11 February 2009.
The appeal decision was made public on 18 March 2009.with the Court of Appeal supporting our appeal to protect Longstone Edge.
Written transcript of 2009 Court of
Appeal judgment (112KB)
Bleaklow Industries Ltd requested permission to appeal to the House of Lords, however this request was refused on 25 June 2009.
More information
Use the links below for more information:
Backdale inquiry outcome – Inspector’s decision letter (135KB)
Wager's Flat nullity issue - Inspector's decision letter (100KB)
Original 1952 planning permission (300KB)
Original plan submitted with the 1952 planning permission (545KB)
Additional plan showing the boundary of the 1952 planning permission
(230KB)
A brief guide to planning inquiries (55KB)
Using the Planning Casework Service website
See the News and Media section of this website to check the latest news
