CONTROVERSIAL plans to turn a disused quarry into a landfill site have been thrown out.

Councillors unanimously rejected the application on Thursday (March 7) at the end of Tony Ingham, a leading campaigner from Ramsbottom Against Landfill (RALF), a protest group set up to fight the plans after they were first lodged by Biffa Waste in October 1998, told the Bury Times: "We are delighted with the overwhelming rejection of the application."

He added: "But we cannot be complacent. We believe that Biffa will appeal and RALF will work with the councillors to fight the application in the future."

A spokesman for Biffa said the company was "considering its position" and looking at the available options.

The company has six months in which to appeal.

Biffa had applied to turn part of Fletcher Bank Quarry in Shuttleworth into a landfill site for commercial, industrial and domestic waste.

RALF said a landfill site would condemn the people of Ramsbottom to years of "misery". During their presentation to 11 planning councillors and the 300-strong audience, members of the group argued against the application on the grounds of health, traffic, and environment. Their case was backed by facts and figures as well as a number of European Directives.

Speaking at the planning control committee, chairman Sue Gregory said: "Ours is not a case of a NIMBY response. A landfill site would be damaging to the environment and local people.

"Landfill does not need to happen, there are alternatives which are encouraged.

"Ramsbottom is the jewel in Bury's crown. This will be destroyed if the application is allowed to proceed."

Among the 30 speaking in support of RALF were Bill Allen, editor of the Bury Times, and Bury North MP David Chaytor.

Mr Allen told planning bosses: "The council have a duty of care to their citizens' welfare, health and quality of life."

His views were supported by members of the public who pleaded with planning bosses to reject the application.

Resident Paul Askew said: "I do not want people to feel sorry for me when they find out I come from Ramsbottom and say that that's the place where the landfill site it.

"Reject it for everyone's sake."

Throwing out the application, Councillor Warren Flood, chairman of the planning control committee, said: "Landfill is the last resort. Waste should be reduced, reused and recycled. The landfill site is in a Green Belt area and is an inappropriate use of Green Belt and is against tourism policy."