QUARRY bosses have diverted investment out of a depressed dale, putting jobs at risk, over a planning dispute.

Sherburn Stone Company director Paul Allison is threatening to cut overtime at Broadwood Quarry, in Frosterley, and blames County Durham's 'stifling planning regime' for the move.

The risk to jobs could not come at a worse time for Weardale, which is losing 147 posts with the ending of production at Lafarge UK's 37-year-old cement plant at Eastgate.

Mr Allison said his company had invested money in increasing production at its limestone quarry in Cumbria instead of Frosterley.

This change in strategy came, he said, after Durham County Council failed to respond in any substantive way to his application for a change in conditions at Broadwood to allow it to dig out more aggregates.

He also claimed that the council's economic development and planning department had ignored the company's correspondence and requests for information.

Although the council insists that Sherburn Stone was aware it had not made a 'valid' planning application for the changes, Mr Allison said he was not told this until he received a letter on Friday morning.

He said: "The last year has been difficult enough for Weardale without more jobs being at risk. As a result of Durham County Council's inaction in processing our application, and the inappropriate enforcement regime at Frosterley, the site will be put on to short working.

"The resulting shortfall in aggregates production will be made up from our quarry in Cumbria. I am disappointed but I lost faith and trust in Durham County Council some time ago.

"I have a duty to the people who work for us to preserve their employment."

A council spokesperson said: "We were made aware of the proposal by the company some time ago and suggested it would be helpful to have discussions to try to identify the best way forward.

"These discussions have not taken place and we have not received a valid planning application from the company."