Clipsham Quarry Company (CQC) have made a major investment to create a new access road to their site that will stop thousands of lorries passing through the nearby village every year on their way to the A1.

Bidwell Lane, which is just a few hundred metres to the west of the picturesque Rutland village of Clipsham, has been given a new entrance and upgraded with several passing places to make it suitable for quarry lorries.

Managing Director of CQC Sue Thomas says the road will divert more than 5,000 heavy trucks a year from the winding village roads.

Sue is the fourth generation of her family to run Clipsham Quarry. Her father and company Chairman, Sir David Davenport-Handley, cut a ribbon to open the new road officially this month (November).

Sue told NSS: “My family moved here in 1877 to run the Clipsham Estate, so we’ve had a long and close relationship with the local community. We are delighted to be able to do something that will benefit the village and its residents.”

The Village Meeting has welcomed this latest development and residents have praised the upgrade to Bidwell Lane for being sympathetic to the area and the environment.

Clipsham Stone is a highly regarded, particularly hard Lincolnshire limestone. It has been the stone of choice for many prestigious projects, including cathedrals, colleges, fine country homes and, most recently, the new multi-million pound Uppingham School Sports Centre. Sculptors also like it for its mellow, crystalline quality.

The new quarry entrance helped secure planning approval to extend the quarry and make another 31acres of stone available. Sue, who has run CQC for the past six years with her husband, Alan, as Sales Director, says Clipsham Quarry Company were more than happy to make the investment.