Plans to re-open quarry to extract 4.3 million tonnes of stone

Plans are afoot to re-open a West Fife quarry with hopes that 4.3 million tonnes of stone could be extracted over 40 years.

Collier Quarrying and Rec Ltd have submitted a request for a scoping opinion to Fife Council to obtain planning consent to re-start and extend operations at Redcraigs Quarry at Roscobie, Knockhill.

Investigations have indicated that there are at least 4.8 million tonnes of Quartz-dolerite reserves within the proposed quarry extraction area, which is a few miles north of Dunfermline.

If given the go-ahead, the rate of extraction would be an average of 110,000 tonnes per year with around 22 vehicles expected to come in and out of the site per working day.

“The material would be extracted at the face using tracked excavators together with mobile crushing equipment operated within the extraction void,” explained a planning statement.

“On completion of each extraction phase, progressive restoration of the side walls would be carried out from the top down placing soil onto the berms and planted in order that any visual impact would be limited.

“On completion of total extraction, the void would be re-profiled with the floor of the quarry being infilled and spread with inert waste soils, subsoil and topsoil and planted in grass / trees.”

Once restored, the land will form a sheltered area for farm animals at Lathalmond Farm which surrounds the quarry site.

The council’s planning service will make a ruling on the application in due course.

Collier’s already operate Goathill Quarry, which is east of Crossgates.