Environmental awards for Aggregate Industries

AGGREGATE Industries UK Ltd swept the board in the recent Lancashire Minerals & Waste Sites Environmental Awards for 2001. The company’s Jamestone Quarry in Haslingden won the top award at a special ceremony held in Preston on 7 January. Aggregate Industries, who have a strong presence in the county, also achieved a runners-up award for work at Back Lane Quarry near Carnforth.

The company’s senior estates surveyor, Geoff Storey, said he was delighted with the performance of the two quarries. ‘These awards recognize sites at the cutting edge of environmental performance and our quarries have demonstrated excellent on-site operations, high environmental standards and good community relations.’

At Jamestone Quarry the judges were particularly impressed with site improvements including the removal of disused lagoons and the restoration of an historic quarry to blend in with the surrounding landscape. The company have also improved site conditions by constantly monitoring water and soil quality, and have established close links with the local community.

At Back Lane Quarry recent events have included a number of school visits and an open weekend when around 100 members of the public were welcomed in to have a look round the site. The awards judges noted the considerable attention given to community involvement and praised the working of Back Lane Quarry’s liaison committee.

Presenting the awards, Lancashire County Council chairman Dorothy Westell said: ‘I am delighted that this year the winning quarry is in Rossendale, an area of Lancashire that contains a high number of quarries and waste sites. There were many entries once again and the competition for this award gets stronger every year.’