A QUARRYING company confirmed this week that it had no intention of seeking planning permission to work an area containing three scheduled ancient monuments near Bedale.

Tarmac Northern has been at the centre of local controversy since it announced in 2001 that it wanted to secure the future of Nosterfield quarry, where sand and gravel reserves will soon be exhausted, by extending operations into areas near Thornborough henges, used as a ceremonial meeting place by ancient people and believed to be older than Stonehenge.

The company will hold a public meeting on Wednesday (7.30) at West Tanfield Memorial Hall to reassure people that it will not now seek to have Thornborough Moor, which includes the earthwork henges, included in the forthcoming review of the North Yorkshire County Council minerals local plan.

The review covers the next ten years and is designed to ensure that North Yorkshire can meet its supply quota of sand and gravel to the local construction industry.

Tarmac has confirmed, however, that it will press ahead with a planning application for quarrying at the nearby Ladybridge Farm site, which at its closest point is half a mile from the nearest henge. This application is due to be considered by North Yorkshire planning committee later this year. Campaigners still fear that valuable archaeology related to the henges could be disturbed or destroyed.

Tarmac Northern estates manager Rob Moore said the decision not to have Thornborough Moor included in the minerals plan review was made after the company had listened to the concern of local people.

"Some people mistakenly believed that the henges were under threat from the imminent minerals local plan review and believed this allocation would be tantamount to permission to extract sand and gravel from beneath Thornborough Moor.

"We have said time and time again that the henges, which are scheduled ancient monuments within a scheduled protection zone, are not threatened by quarrying.

"We hope this move will help to allay any fears and confusion that people may have in relation to our current planning application, remove the perception that there is time pressure to conserve the henges and allow time for a full conservation plan for the henges.

"We have provided financial assistance to English Heritage for its conservation plan study which will put Thornborough Moor under the microscope to bring forward recommendations for future use of the land."

The public meeting will give updated reports on archaeology, ecology and the proposals for Ladybridge Farm which, Tarmac said, had been substantially revised following comments from local people