Portland limestone extractor Albion Stone is just opening a second mine that will mark the end of opencast quarrying by the company.

Albion started mining in Jordans Quarry 10 years ago. The change from quarrying to mining at Bowers Quarry will see all Albion’s stone coming from mines.

A third mine will be opened next year on a previously unquarried site at Stonehills. Work was due to have started there earlier in the year but was postponed so that nesting Skylarks would not be disturbed. Now the young have flown the nest, civil engineering contractors are onsite.

Albion has determined that the optimum number of £500,000 Fantini saws it needs for its mining operations is currently five and took delivery of the fifth last month (August).

Basebed, which is currently in greatest demand, will be taken from the mine first to ensure it remains in plentiful supply.