FEARS have arisen over the possibility that Bob's Bridge Quarry in Moore might not be restored to its former condition after excavating work has finished.

Members of the Agenda 21 Waste Group have written to the Environment Agency raising their concerns about the Lapwing Lane site.

They fear that the owners might be given permission to use imported inert waste, such as discarded building materials, to shore up the banks of the quarry during its restoration period, and that this could prevent plants and trees from growing.

George Warburton, chairman of the group, said: "We will write to the development control committee expressing our concern.

"If the company is not doing its job properly then it needs looking into."

The quarry is owned by the Manchester Ship Canal Company which gained permission to excavate for raw minerals as long as it restored the site afterwards.

More recently the company gained permission to import inert waste for recycling despite opposition from parish councillors and local residents. However, it is currently not allowed to use imported waste for restoration.

The company has also applied to change its restoration plans to include dry grassland and ponds after consultation with the Wildlife Trust.

Previous hopes to plant trees on the land have failed due to waterlogged ground.

Gary Nancarrow, of the borough council's community services department, said that new plans submitted by the company are more environmentally friendly than the previous ones.

But he added: "I want to have a level of control over what goes into the site."

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