SHORTAGE of waste could mean that a controversial Darlington quarry will not be completely landscaped for a further two years.

W&M Thompson (Earthworks), operators at Barmpton Quarry, were originally given until September 1996 to finish operations and start restoration work.

In 1999, it was granted a three-year extension because the introduction of the landfill tax had triggered a downturn in waste disposal and a shift towards reclamation and recycling.

Now it is asking Darlington planning committee to give it another two years' breathing space, with the promise of completion by September 2005.

Coun David Lyonette, who chaired the 1999 planning committee, said then: "We will be monitoring it ourselves and I'm sure in three years' time it will be back to the way we want it."

This week he said: "Obviously they are going to have to have a good case to convince both the committee and the local people.

"From what I have seen up there, it really was going very well with a lot of green grass coming back and we were hopeful we could get an arrangement with Tees Forest to plant there.

"If this is not going to be on schedule, it is a great disappointment. I don't know how we can speed the thing up."

Dr Paul Steadman, Thompson's development and environmental manager, said the introduction of an aggregate tax last year had diverted construction and demolition waste away from Barmpton.

"In response to the downturn, a commercial decision was taken to halve the gate fees for waste disposal into the site. Despite continually increasing operational costs and legislative pressures, disposal rates are now less than those in 1999."

Since 1999 the firm had bought two skip hire companies, adding 14 wagons and about 300 skips to its fleet. It had also opened two extra transfer stations attracting waste from North Tyneside and Northumberland, to help fill up Barmpton.

The day-to-day operations were now concentrated within the central void, well screened from residents and reducing noise and dust.

Last year, a further four hectares of agricultural grassland and tree planting was completed - 3,244 trees and shrubs on the north-western boundary, with fencing.

Another hectare would soon be restored to grassland along the northern edge of the void