A QUARRY company has quashed rumours that a former cement works earmarked to become a renewable energy village will instead be used as a rubbish dump.

Rumours have been rife in Weardale, County Durham, that Lafarge Tarmac want to turn their former works at Eastgate into a landfill centre.

But the company has categorically denied it has any such plans and is still looking to turn the site into a ground-breaking renewable energy village.

The energy village, a joint project with Durham County Council, was first put forward after the site closed in 2002 but ground to a halt due to a lack of funding.

Residents in Eastgate have previously objected to the energy village fearing it will dwarf the existing village and lead to congestion problems in the dale.

The landfill rumours are believed to have occurred after farmers who own land adjacent to the River Wear at the former cement works were asked their views on it being used for landfill by a man claiming to represent the team behind the village.

But a spokesman for Lafarge Tarmac said the company has no plans whatsoever to turn the Eastgate cement works into a landfill site.

The spokesman said: “There are, categorically, no plans to turn our Weardale site into a landfill site.

“We are committed to supporting delivery of the Eastgate Renewable Energy Village strategy and have been in ongoing contact with local councillors and stakeholders to update them on these plans.”

The spokesman also said a representative will attend a meeting of Stanhope Parish Council, due to be held on Wednesday, July 9, at 7pm at the Durham Dales Centre in Stanhope, to provide an update on the plans.

Sarah Robson, Durham County Council’s head of economic development, said: “We can confirm that there are absolutely no plans to create a landfill site at Eastgate.

“Creating a renewable energy village on the site remains the goal and we continue to support Lafarge Tarmac in achieving it.”

Weardale county councillor John Shuttleworth said he had not heard the landfill rumours but would have been opposed to such a scheme.

He said: “It would be totally wrong there.

“This has got to be something that brings big benefits to the dale just like the energy village would.”

Plans for the village were approved in 2010.

The project was to feature business units, homes and leisure facilities powered by all five forms of land-based renewable energy including a geo-thermal spring.