§ Mr. Moreasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that quarrying has caused a landslip at Wenlock Edge, which is in an area of outstanding natural beauty; who is responsible for the preservation of this feature; and what steps are being taken to see that there is effective future supervision of it.
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§ Mr. Graham PageYes. I understand that a slip occurred at Lea Quarry when quarrying met a band of clay running transversely across the Edge. I gather that the quarry operators are stabilising the slip and are backfilling and landscaping the affected area, and that there is unlikely to be a noticeable long-term effect on the north-west view of this famous landmark.
Responsibility for day-to-day planning and development control matters rests with the local planning authority. This is so in areas of outstanding natural beauty as elsewhere.
I understand that Shropshire County Council is closely watching developments at Lea Quarry and elsewhere on Wenlock Edge; and that future applications to work minerals in the area will be carefully examined in the light of this incident.