PLANS for an extension to a sand and gravel quarry are likely to be approved, despite concerns from conservationists.

North Yorkshire County Council is due to consider an application from Hanson Aggregates to double the size of Ripon quarry next week.

Councillors are being recommended to support the proposals, despite the fears expressed by nature groups.

Sand and gravel workings have been taking place at the former Ure Valley quarry, off the A6108 near North Stainley, for more than 50 years.

The output from the site is about 200,000 tonnes a year, generating about 42 lorry loads each day. Hanson Aggregates says the creation of a new processing plant could increase the output to a maximum of 400,000 tonnes a year.

Members of the local High Batts nature reserve and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust have objected to the development, saying it could damage a stream and pool system in the Batts area.

North Yorkshire's environmental services director, Mike Moore, said the quarry site did not fall within any area designated for protection, although a small block of woodland and recently planted trees and hedgerows would be lost.

He said: "The diverse landscape elements that would be created, together with the site location immediately adjoining the River Ure, should result in the proposals generating a positive contribution to the landscape in the longer term."

The extraction area proposed contains almost four million tonnes of sand and gravel, which would be worked in 12 annual phases.

The workings employ eight people, and no jobs are likely to be created. The county council's planning committee will be asked to consider the application when it meets at County Hall, on Tuesday.

Mr Moore said: "An examination of the potential impacts has taken place and it is concluded that, subject to the imposition of controls, no substantial adverse impacts would arise that would justify refusal of planning permission."