A public enquiry has found in favour of allowing a Lincolnshire limestone quarry to be developed near Brigg in north Lincolnshire.

The quarry, called Slate House, is at Hibaldstow. It is owned by AM Borrill & Sons and the warm yellow stone will be extracted by Welton.

The stone will initially be offered as quarry block and dry stone walling only, although Phil Kerry’s Goldholme stone company, who quarry stone from Hooby Lane quarry in Rutland, are interested in processing the block for customers.

As well as finding in favour of the quarry, the inspector at the public enquiry also awarded costs against North Lincoln unitary authority, which had opposed the development.

Gary Hughes of consultants Hughes Craven (formerly Halletec – see below) represented the applicants.

He said North Lincoln unitary authority initially seemed to accept the arguments for the quarry, but then refused planning permission on traffic grounds, even though there would only be five or six lorry movements a day associated with the 75,000tonnes of the stone that will be extracted each year.

The quarry was opened during World War Two to use as a source of aggregate to build an airfield nearby. Farmers have also used it as a source of dry stone walling and for farm tracks over a longer period.

Robert Borrill says they aim to supply the stone as dry stone walling again to help maintain the character of the area. Lincoln Cathedral, who have their own quarry, although it has limited remaining reserves, are also interested to see the block that comes from the new site.

Robert says his family have not supplied stone before but that he sees his farm as a mini-estate from which he wants to maximise the assets.

He says the cost of gaining permission to extract the stone has surprised him. He had expected it to be about £20,000, but it had exceeded £100,000.

There are about 1million tonnes of reserves, so they should last 15 years. After that the site will be restored to important calcareous grassland for grazing.

The operators are now in the quarry and it is expected stone will be available for sale by June.

Robert told NSS: “If you start something in a recession you can build up steadily. We have a great product and good operators in there. We’re looking forward to getting it on to the market.”

For more information and to buy the stone contact Robert Borrill on Tel: 01652 648257.