THE owners of a controversial quarry have warned that the public could be in danger unless extra excavations are allowed.

Harwood Quarry Company were refused permission by a Government inspector to remove an extra 200,000 cubic metres of rock which they said was necessary to stop the risk of rockslides from the unstable north face.

The inspector agreed stabilisation work was needed at the site off Brookfield Lane, Harwood, and suggested a smaller compromise scheme which councillors will consider on Thursday.

And a strongly-worded statement from Harwood Quarry Company urged them to accept.

A spokesman for the quarry firm said: "We have spent five years and gone to considerable expense to try to overcome the red tape associated with the planning process.

"In the meantime we are lucky not have had another quarry collapse and somebody injured. I hope the council will allow this small scheme to go ahead otherwise the quarry will be unsafe for many years."

Council planners are recommending approval of the application to remove 92,000 cubic metres of gritstone and shale to remove what they describe as a "significant hazard."

Previous permission for a minor extension to the quarry was given after a slip in 1995.

But the council has received several letters from nearby residents who point out that the site is within the Green Belt and classed as an area of Special Landscape Value.

They are also protesting that the expansion would cause noise, dust and more than 60 extra HGV journeys a day.

All three Bradshaw councillors have objected to the development.

Cllr Diana Brierley told the BEN: "It's ridiculous. We have already been through this whole process and it was kicked out and everybody was happy about that."

THE owners of a controversial quarry have warned that the public could be in danger unless extra excavations are allowed.

Harwood Quarry Company were refused permission by a Government inspector to remove an extra 200,000 cubic metres of rock which they said was necessary to stop the risk of rockslides from the unstable north face.

The inspector agreed stabilisation work was needed at the site off Brookfield Lane, Harwood, and suggested a smaller compromise scheme which councillors will consider on Thursday.

And a strongly-worded statement from Harwood Quarry Company urged them to accept.

A spokesman for the quarry firm said: "We have spent five years and gone to considerable expense to try to overcome the red tape associated with the planning process.

"In the meantime we are lucky not to have had another quarry collapse and somebody injured. I hope the council will allow this small scheme to go ahead otherwise the quarry will be unsafe for many years."

Council planners are recommending approval of the application to remove 92,000 cubic metres of gritstone and shale to remove what they describe as a "significant hazard."

Previous permission for a minor extension to the quarry was given after a slip in 1995.

But the council has received several letters from nearby residents who point out that the site is within the Green Belt and classed as an area of Special Landscape Value.

They are also protesting that the expansion would cause noise, dust and more than 60 extra HGV journeys a day.

All three Bradshaw councillors have objected to the development.

Cllr Diana Brierley said: "It's ridiculous. We have already been through this whole process and it was kicked out and everybody was happy about that."