Lingerbay
Encyclopedia
Lingerbay in Harris, Scotland
, was the subject of one of the Western Isles's longest controversies (see Harris Super Quarry
).
The original 'superquarry' planning application, submitted in 1991, was to extract 600 million tonnes of anorthosite
rock over a period of 60 years, from Roineabhal
, an isolated area of South Harris in the Western Isles.
The proposal prompted numerous objections and led to the formation of a body called the Link Quarry Group (LQG). The Quarry Group was concerned about the quarry's location in a designated National Scenic Area
, questions over the sustainability
of extracting vast quantities of rock for use in motorway construction, the potential for marine pollution
from the increased shipping
traffic and impacts on the biodiversity
of the area including a pair of golden eagles.
Due to the concerns raised the Scottish Executive
held a Public Local Inquiry in Stornoway
, which ran over 9 months from October 1994 until June 1995. It was then a further four years before the recommendations from the inquiry were completed and submitted to the Scottish Executive. Finally, in November 2000 Sam Galbraith
as Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture (including responsibility for Planning) turned down the application.
In 2001, a second inquiry was held into the legal validity of a consent apparently granted in 1965. Scottish Ministers decide that a consent was granted for a small quarry
rather than the large area claimed by the applicants. The applicants lodge and appeal with the Court of Session
, agreeing that no redetermination of the 1991 application should take place until this appeal is decided. In January 2004 the decision by Scottish Ministers, that the 1965 consent relates to a small area of quarrying activity is upheld.
In April 2004 Lafarge
decided to withdraw their 1991 application and announced their intention to drop their proposals for the site.
As in several other environmental controversies in Scotland, the Ròineabhal question was argued on both sides by parties not resident in the country.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, was the subject of one of the Western Isles's longest controversies (see Harris Super Quarry
Harris Super Quarry
The Harris Super Quarry was a proposed super quarry at Lingerbay, Harris, Scotland. The plan was to surface mine aggregate....
).
The original 'superquarry' planning application, submitted in 1991, was to extract 600 million tonnes of anorthosite
Anorthosite
Anorthosite is a phaneritic, intrusive igneous rock characterized by a predominance of plagioclase feldspar , and a minimal mafic component...
rock over a period of 60 years, from Roineabhal
Roineabhal
Roineabhal is a hill on the Isle of Harris, in the Western Isles of Scotland. The granite on the summit plateau of the mountain is anorthosite, and is similar in composition to rocks found in the mountains of the Moon....
, an isolated area of South Harris in the Western Isles.
The proposal prompted numerous objections and led to the formation of a body called the Link Quarry Group (LQG). The Quarry Group was concerned about the quarry's location in a designated National Scenic Area
National Scenic Area
National Scenic Area is a designation for areas of natural beauty used by more than one nation.* National Scenic Area * National Scenic Area * National scenic areas in Taiwan* National Scenic Area...
, questions over the sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
of extracting vast quantities of rock for use in motorway construction, the potential for marine pollution
Marine pollution
Marine pollution occurs when harmful, or potentially harmful effects, can result from the entry into the ocean of chemicals, particles, industrial, agricultural and residential waste, noise, or the spread of invasive organisms. Most sources of marine pollution are land based...
from the increased shipping
Shipping
Shipping has multiple meanings. It can be a physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo, by land, air, and sea. It also can describe the movement of objects by ship.Land or "ground" shipping can be by train or by truck...
traffic and impacts on the biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
of the area including a pair of golden eagles.
Due to the concerns raised the Scottish Executive
Scottish Executive
The Scottish Government is the executive arm of the devolved government of Scotland. It was established in 1999 as the Scottish Executive, from the extant Scottish Office, and the term Scottish Executive remains its legal name under the Scotland Act 1998...
held a Public Local Inquiry in Stornoway
Stornoway
Stornoway is a burgh on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.The town's population is around 9,000, making it the largest settlement in the Western Isles and the third largest town in the Scottish Highlands after Inverness and Fort William...
, which ran over 9 months from October 1994 until June 1995. It was then a further four years before the recommendations from the inquiry were completed and submitted to the Scottish Executive. Finally, in November 2000 Sam Galbraith
Sam Galbraith
Samuel Laird "Sam" Galbraith is a Scottish Labour Party politician. He is a former Member of Parliament and a former Member of the Scottish Parliament....
as Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture (including responsibility for Planning) turned down the application.
In 2001, a second inquiry was held into the legal validity of a consent apparently granted in 1965. Scottish Ministers decide that a consent was granted for a small quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
rather than the large area claimed by the applicants. The applicants lodge and appeal with the Court of Session
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
, agreeing that no redetermination of the 1991 application should take place until this appeal is decided. In January 2004 the decision by Scottish Ministers, that the 1965 consent relates to a small area of quarrying activity is upheld.
In April 2004 Lafarge
Lafarge
Lafarge is a French industrial company specialising in four major products: cement, construction aggregates, concrete and gypsum wallboard. In 2010 the company was the world's second-largest cement manufacturer by mass shipped behind Holcim.-History:...
decided to withdraw their 1991 application and announced their intention to drop their proposals for the site.
As in several other environmental controversies in Scotland, the Ròineabhal question was argued on both sides by parties not resident in the country.