Residents of Stanton in the Peak District have set themselves up as SADE - Stanton Against the Destruction of our Environment - to fight Stancliffe Stone\'s proposals to extend their Dale View quarry in the National Park.

The group\'s first publicity stunt was to form a \'human chain\' around the area of the proposed extension of the quarry on Saturday 30 July.

About 100 people turned up, not enough to encompass the whole area by linking hands, although the organisers had anticipated that outcome and had ribbons for people to hold in order that they could spread out far enough.

Nick Moor, chairman of SADE, said it showed how large an area was involved in the proposed extension that it could not be ringed by the protestors linking hands.

SADE was formed following the High Court\'s ruling that Stancliffe could not resume quarrying on the footprint of Endcliffe and Lees Cross quarries under the conditions of an existing planning permission granted in 1952.

The National Park Authority argued that the quarries were redundant and therefore, although the planning permission remained valid, new conditions could be imposed before work was resumed there. Stancliffe contested that decision, first in the High Court and then to the Appeal Court, but the decision was upheld (see the July issue of NSS).

Faced with the prospect of severe restrictions on their operations at Endcliffe and Lees Cross, Stancliffe decided at the turn of the year that they would rather extend Dale View Quarry, which they were already working. They tried to bring the appeal to an end, but the local council argued that the matter should be determined and the appeal continued.

After the Appeal Court reached its decision in June, Stancliffe held a meeting with local residents on 1 July to explain their intentions to extend operations at Dale View. About 50 people attended. The residents say this was the first they had heard of the proposals.

Stancliffe, based in Matlock and owned by York stone quarriers Marshalls, say they will be submitting a planning application regarding the extension of Dale View to the Peak District National Park Authority at the end of the summer.

A spokesperson for Stancliffe told NSS that the proposals have been amended as a result of comments made by local residents. Notably, the size of the proposed area to be worked has been reduced and additional tree planting is proposed to screen the workings from the village.

Stancliffe also propose a programme of on-going restoration of the site, the net result of which would be that the area actually being worked at any one time would be smaller than the area currently being worked.

The company say that if they receive planning permission to extend Dale View they will revoke their quarrying rights to Endcliffe and Lees Cross and carry out restoration work there.

Protestors have occupied the site for the past five years. They say they will leave when they have confirmation that the site will not be quarried. They are concerned that a Bronze Age stone circle known as Nine Ladies should be protected.

The residents of Stanton say the proposals for Dale View will still take quarrying near to Nine Ladies but will also mean it is far nearer the village. Nick Moor is concerned that the extension of the quarry will spoil an area used by tourists to park in order to visit Nine Ladies and the National Park.

He is also concerned about lorry movements, although Stancliffe say there will be no more than the current 16-18 a day in spite of planning permission that allows up to 30 movements a day.

The company say the quarry extension will safeguard the jobs of the 68 people they employ and the character of the Peak District, where 70% of the stone from Dale View is used, both for restoration and new build.

The residents say it is they who will pay for that, both in the lost value of property and the loss of amenity.