BOSSES of a landfill site have applied to extend their work permit by seven years.

Lancashire County Council has received an application to extend planning permission at Withnell Quarry Landfill site, Withnell, from December 2003 until December 2010.

The proposal has been recommended for approval subject to conditions and will be discussed by the county council's development control sub-committee tomorrow.

The report, to be presented to the committee, says that the site has a long history of mineral working and planning permission was first granted in 1948. Waste disposal at the site was first permitted in 1980.

In 1993, permission was granted for two million tonnes of minerals to be extracted and one million cubic metres of landfill. The work was to be completed and the site restored by December 2003. The report goes on: "The minerals extracted at the site are sandstone, used as a general bulk fill, and mudstone, which is used in brick manufacture. The waste deposited is from the commercial and industrial sectors in Blackburn, Chorley, Preston and Wigan.

"Landfill gas is extracted from the site and utilised in an adjacent power generator to produce electricity for distribution to the local network."

Councillors will look at how the planned time extension will affect local amenities and the changes in mineral and waste policy that have taken place since permission was originally granted.

The mineral reserve at the site was almost exhausted in supplying materials for the M65 and construction of the Reebok Stadium near Bolton, but there are still about two hectares of unworked land although more of mudstone supplies are held in stockpile.