A PUBLIC consultation was held at Bangors Yard, Quarry Lane, Launceston last Thursday, over a proposed asphalt plant on the site.

If approved, the development would include offices, a weighbridge, lorry park, storage bays, a workshop and dust/sand barn.

CORMAC also want to create a new site entrance from Bangors Road and to close the current entrance at Quarry Lane, engineer a new level across the south and east of the site via the import of primary aggregates to provide an ergonomic design for site operations and to avoid erecting buildings on the historic landfill, and landscape new embankments appropriate to the ecological context, and create new wood­land through in-filling of Quarry Lane with waste soil under an exemption.

There are currently just five asphalt plants in the county with the nearest based at Hingston Down Quarry near Gunnislake, and CORMAC’s Head of Surfacing, Aggregates and Recycling, Ian Bounsall, says it’s much needed.

Mr Bounsall said: “We need to be able to produce more asphalt in this area and at present there isn’t one. Products are having to be transported in to places such as Plymouth, Summercourt and Bude but there is a void in the market.

“It’ll help reduce transport and the carbon footprint and makes it cheaper as we’re not having to transport products miles to where it’s needed.”

The implementation of such a construction won’t be welcomed by all, but Mr Bounsall believes that there aren’t any negatives to the project.

He said: “I don’t believe there any negatives. This site has been used for recycling for a number of years and was a former slate quarry. It’s a commercial area of land and we think the geography and tree line means that the site doesn’t have any visual impact. It’s also very close to the A30 network so we’ll be able to get the material to the relevant site quickly.

“The site will generate jobs for both people to operate the plant and it’ll benefit haulage companies as we want to make use of the local services. It’s about delivering a highways maintenance service as cheaply as we can.”

One concern for many is the present narrow entrance as you head towards South Petherwin from the Pennygillam Roundabout. The road is known for cars speeding, but CORMAC are looking to build a road starting in Pennygillam Industrial Estate to create better access.

Mr Bounsall said: “The existing access is narrow and there’s a lot more room through Pennygillam. There’s a road network, which runs into the back of the site and we feel that’s the best solution.”

Project manager, Andy Bartle, who is also the head of aggregates and recycling at CORMAC Solutions Ltd, told members of the public some of the details.

Mr Bartle said: “The chimney stack will be 26-metres high and it shouldn’t affect the visual side that much while Public Health England have told us already that there won’t be any adverse health effects.

“The site would hopefully be open from Monday to Friday, starting at 6am and on the odd Saturday if needed.”

The plans have not proved popular with some of the local residents.

One man, who lives at Tregaller Close, said: “No I’m not in favour at all. We live 500 metres across the field. There’s also a turbine behind and and any fumes may be blown over my property, which in my opinion, devalues it and will mean it will take a lot longer to sell it. We’ve got a view right across Dartmoor at the moment and we don’t want it ruined by the plant.”

Ann Nicholson lives at nearby Daws House, and said: “I’m very anti-it. I live very close and the extra traffic would be a nightmare and there’s also the environmental impacts to consider.”

South Petherwin’s Roy Rogers used to shoot rats and vermin around the area in the 1950s, and claimed: “I think it’s absolutely ridiculous. When the Americans came over in the war they lost thousands of tonnes of ammunition and explosives, which are still under the quarry and could cause a lot of damage.”

As the Post went to press, all 20 public comments on Cornwall Council’s planning register state their objections to the proposals.

However, Launceston’s Kevin Mathis believes that it’s great the site will be put to use.

Mr Mathis said: “I think it’s a very good idea. It will help with local employment, cut down on vehicle movements and make good use of an under-used brownfield site. “

The planning committee will meet on November 17 to decide whether CORMAC’S plans are successful.