CONTROVERSIAL plans to increase the landfill waste at Fletcher Bank Quarry in Ramsbottom have been approved.

Peel Environmental was granted permission to increase the height of inert infilling in the northern part of the quarry, which currently stands at around 212 metres, by Bury Council’s planning committee.

The proposals will involve 950,000 cubic metres of waste being imported to the site, at a rate of 100,000 cubic metres a year.

The work would be completed by 2036, and restoration work to the site to return it to grassland and woodland would be completed by 2038.

The plans had attracted opposition from the local community, with 661 people formally objecting to the proposals, and dozens of people attended Tuesday’s committee meeting.

Opponents say that there will be around 24,000 vehicle movements around the site each year, which will cause dirt and dust to be dispersed on roads and houses in the area.

Coun Ian Bevan said: “Residents have been handed a planning application for landfill which has been dressed up as a green environmental scheme.”

Kieran Tames, development surveyor at Peel Environmental, said: “We’re pleased the planning committee decided to approve the application.”