A LEADING supplier of heavy building materials has won permission to continue its quarrying operations in a national park and close to sites of special scientific interest.

A meeting of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s planning committee was told Ingleton Quarry was among just 15 in England and Wales capable of producing high-specification aggregate suitable for heavy traffic road surfaces and that more than a million tonnes of the stone would be left there if the firm was not allowed to extend its operations to 2025.

A Hanson spokesman said it had responded to complaints from nearby residents about noise by launching a range of measures, such as installing rubber lining on our primary crusher and while there had been incidents over dust and light, management would ensure were not repeated.

The firm also said it would complete restoration of the quarry site by December 31 2026.

However, campaign group the Friends of the Dales had objected to the proposal following the firm securing an extension to its operations at the site in 2015.

Wensleydale farmer and member Allen Kirkbride told the meeting the firm had done all it could to mitigate the environmental harm and the operation of the quarry created much-needed employment in the national park.

Member David Ireton added: “They should get out as much stone as possible. The scar of the damage to the landscape is already done there.”