BID TO EXTEND LIFE OF QUARRY AFTER 200 YEARS

Plans are in for the historic site in Blaenau Ffestiniog

- By OWEN HUGHES Business Correspondent [e-mail]

PLANS are in to extend the life of a 200-year-old quarry in North Wales.

Ffestiniog Quarry (also known as Oakeley Quarry or Gloddfa Ganol Mine) is located in the heart of Blaenau Ffestiniog.

It has been producing slates from 1818 and was formed by the Ordovician slate beds laid down more than 470million years ago. Under its current planning permission, work is set to end at the 160-hectare (ha) site at the end of this year.

But owner Breedon Trading Ltd wants to extend this by another 40 years.

The working scheme is based on being able to produce 30,000 slates per week.

If planning permission is not secured from Cyngor Gwynedd, then the quarry would cease operations at the end of the year, resulting in the loss of employment.