New Dangers for Longstone Edge
Activity has resumed at Backdale Quarry after a short break; and there are new threats to a large untouched part of Longstone Edge: Peak Pasture.
Backdale Quarry
Following a legal ruling quarry operators MMC Midlands removed their rock crushing machinery from Backdale Quarry. However, they have now returned and are moving crushed fluorspar stockpiles to Glebe Mines Limited. This is despite an assurance given by Glebe Mines not to take fluorspar from environmentally destructive operations.
There are unconfirmed reports that blasting and quarrying operations will resume shortly, with MMC Midlands extracting more fluorspar to sell to Glebe Mines. The recent legal rulings allow MMC to extract as much fluorspar as they like, and limit only the limestone extraction (although in fact MMC has sold hundreds of thousands of tons of limestone over the past few years, in violation of their minerals licence).
So with Glebe apparently a willing buyer it seems that destruction of Longstone Edge is soon to resume. Bleaklow Industries (the landowner) has three parcels of land where they also own the minerals rights: Backdale Quarry, Wager's Flat and Beacon Rod (as yet untouched). We must assume that all three sites are in danger.
See the photographs showing fluorspar being moved.
Peak Pasture
Further bad news is that the Peak District National Park Authority has insisted that Glebe Mines should produce a plan for the working of fluorspar veins on Peak Pasture - the 260 acres of land immediately above the village of Calver.
Peak Pasture is mostly owned by Bleaklow Industries, with the minerals rights owned by Glebe Mines. Glebe had earlier traded an undertaking to leave Peak Pasture untouched for four years in exchange for permission to quarry at Tearsall, near Matlock. However, it appears that the Peak Park and Glebe have not formalised this undertaking.
Following the recent Court of Appeal decision it appears that the Peak Park have decided to reconsider the Tearsall and Peak Pasture agreements. Jim Dixon, Chief Executive of the Peak District National Park Authority says "The Authority will consider this matter in September and all parties will be given the opportunity to comment. I cannot now say what the officer recommendation will be."
The Save Longstone Edge Group are aghast to learn of this new threat to Longstone Edge, especially since it seems to have been instigated by the Peak District National Park Authority - supposedly the guardians of the National Park but apparently a collaborator in its destruction.