SAVE LONGSTONE EDGE

Significant Changes of Ownership on Longstone Edge

There have been two significant changes which have raised new issues about the future of Longstone Edge.

First, Mr Robin Harpley and Bleaklow Industries have sold all their land and mineral rights on the Edge to a local businessman. Mr Harpley was responsible for the destruction of Backdale and Wagers Flat, and all of our supporters will be happy to see the back of him.

We have met the new owner, and he has no plans to quarry minerals on Longstone Edge.

Secondly, Glebe Mines, the previous owner of mineral rights north of Bramley Lane and of Cavendish Mill where fluorspar was processed, has been bought by an Italian fluorochemical company. They have plans to reopen Cavendish Mill and resume fluorspar extraction in the Peak District. This includes working their existing planning permission on Longstone Edge for a further few months, but they have no plans for the Edge beyond this.

Neither of these developments causes SLEG immediate concern. Indeed, the change of ownership south of Bramley Lane is likely to be helpful.

For more details, read our newsletter which is also available as a pdf file

Longstone Edge is a beautiful three-mile-long ancient limestone ridge in the Peak District National Park, prominently situated within sight of Chatsworth House and Bakewell, which has been suffering destruction by limestone quarrying.

The photo above, taken on 15 September 2008, shows the extent of the destruction. Grass and trees have been cleared on either side so the quarry can be expanded - subsequently this too was quarried. Fortunately legal action has now terminated this quarrying, by the eyesore remains. (Click on the photo for a larger image, and here to compare with earlier photos.)

A legal battle has raged for years over the meaning of a 1952 mineral extraction permission. In March 2009 the Court of Appeal decided in favour of the Peak Park and the Government, hopefully opening the way to the long-term protection of Longstone Edge.

A massive scar has been created in the heart of unspoilt scenery in the second most-visited national park in the world. Long-term situation is still unclear, as there are still valid mineral extraction licences.

For a quick introduction to the problem,
click here and view our video ...

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Video produced by Active Image Ltd.