A PLANNING application to deepen Trefil Quarry has been deferred.

Owners Gryphonn Quarries Ltd submitted an application to Blaenau Gwent council to deepen the quarry by 27m from 439m above average sea level to 412m.

The quarry has been worked for limestone since the 19th century and following a period of closure, was re-opened by Gryphonn Quarries Ltd in 1994.

Since the mid-1990s, the site has been subject to a number of planning applications to amend quarrying conditions.

The quarry itself, which is 5km north east of Tredegar, covers approximately 25 hectares. According to information submitted by the developers, 220,000 tonnes of limestone is removed per year.

At its current depth the quarry has enough in reserve to continue quarrying until July 2011. With the granted extension the quarry would yield an additional 10 years of supply, extending it to 2021.

The application does not include a lateral extension to the quarry, which currently employs 18 people. Tredegar town council expressed concerns at the proposal, over increased lorry size, quarry blasting and timescale issues, but did not object to the scheme.

Six residents also objected to the plan over issues concerning the impact on the existing road to the quarry, transportation of waste, extended use of quarry and dust control.

The report prepared by council offers into the application found that limestone would be unlikely to cause unacceptable dust levels.

There is no evidence to suggest that lorry size will increase and if this is the case, the total number of lorry movements will be reduced by the use of larger vehicles.

Sirhowy ward councillor Brian Thomas asked for the decision to be deferred to allow members of the planning committee to hold a site visit, a motion which was passed by members.