New quarry developments, landfill sites and recycling centres are often controversial, due to potential visual, noise and other pollution issues, as well as access issues for local people. Quarries in particular can raise major landscape issues, since they are often located in areas of stunning and unspoilt landscape. When examining a planning application for minerals development, we will consider both landscape and local employment issues. It has to be shown that there is a defined need for the development in the Cumbria Minerals and Waste Local Development Framework – the document which sets the strategic framework for minerals and waste development in the county. As a general rule, we also encourage the re-use of existing materials over additional extraction.

Within the National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty we will resist proposals for new quarries, and extensions to existing developments, unless the applicants can demonstrate that there is a proven national need and there are no alternatives. In these areas, small scale traditional quarrying (to address local needs) may be acceptable provided that it does not result in erosion of the special qualities of the landscape.
When looking at proposals for waste disposal, we apply the reduce, re-use, recycle waste hierarchy, which is reflected in the North West Regional Spatial Strategy. While visual, noise and other polluting effects on the landscape are key considerations, if they are not in or close to towns, proposed new developments can generate more need to travel to them. Household waste recycling centres, for example, need to be located in areas which are easily accessible for the local population. We aim to take all of these factors into consideration when deciding whether or not to oppose an application for this kind of a development.