New mineral partnership agreed with Farmcare
Hills Quarry Products to operate new Latton North Quarry in Cotswold Water Park area
HILLS Quarry Products and Farmcare Ltd have agreed a mineral partnership that will provide access to significant mineral reserves in the Cotswold Water Park area. The first phase of the partnership will see Hills operate the new Latton North Quarry on the Gloucestershire/Wiltshire border.
The 40ha site, which has been known as the ‘Six and One’ site, is split into two parts, east and west, and is situated just off the Cirencester Road. The sand and gravel reserve is estimated at 550,000 tonnes.
‘Hills have extensive experience in operating quarries in the Cotswold Water Park area and are proud to be working with Farmcare as a long-term mineral partner,’ said Peter Andrew, group director with Hills Quarry Products (left of photo). ‘These significant mineral reserves will provide an essential long-term supply of construction materials into the region’s market.’
Richard Quinn, chief executive officer of Farmcare (right of photo), said: ‘We recognize the importance and value of long-term decisions and how we identify appropriate and like-minded businesses who can extract these resources and deliver a leading approach to restoration and the environment within such a project.’
Works to complete the construction of new access from the quarry on to the Cirencester Road (the old A419) will be completed by the end of this month. Extraction of mineral will begin in the west area and continue in four phases at an estimated 85,000 tonnes per year, with progressive restoration back to agricultural land.
As no processing operations will take place at Latton North Quarry, the sand and gravel dug there will be transported to nearby Cerney Wick Quarry for processing, with site traffic being directed from the north of the new quarry to avoid the villages of Down Ampney and Latton.
Latton North Quarry is planned to last approximately seven years allowing for both extraction and restoration works.
