A COUNCIL has been accused of maladministration and unfairness when it approved a controversial quarry extension.

The former Durham County Council backed Lafarge Aggregates’ plan to extend its Thrislington Quarry east of the A1(M) last October.

Objector Eric Potts, of Bishop Middleham, County Durham, has reported the authority’s action to the local government ombudsman in a bid to have the decision reviewed.

The scheme will see the existing 112 hectare quarry extended by 78 hectares and around 30 million tonnes of magnesian limestone extracted over the next 32 years.

Mr Potts was among more than 1,300 people who objected to the scheme and a member of the protest group SLAG (Stop Lafarge Action Group).

They argued it will create extra dust, noise and traffic, opposed the loss of farm land and claimed the limestone is not needed.

Lafarge says the extension will maintain more than 100 jobs and support the UK steel and chemical industries.

But Mr Potts believes the need for further quarrying was not proven to councillors and that objectors were unfairly treated when both sides presented their case to the planning committee.

He said: "We were deprived of our democratic right to make a full declaration of our objections in written and spoken form in the council chamber."

The local government ombudsman yesterday said the case was still being considered and a council spokesman said it was inappropriate to comment until a decision is made.

Full story in The Northern Echo.