FORD Quarry has been granted a 10-year extension to carry on quarrying at Cliviger.

The Lancashire County decision came despite local council opposition and allows jobs expansion at the business which sends local stone all over the world.

A list of 34 strict conditions have been ordered by county chiefs to ensure the site runs smoothly with no detriment to neighbours or environment.

And the go-ahead leaves the way clear for the firm to apply for a waste disposal licence for the site from the Environmental Agency, which is expected to impose further safeguards.

Quarry chief Gordon Ford said he was delighted with the decision, taken after many months of consultation, and said it would allow the quarrying workforce to double to nearly 30 employees.

He explained that the disposal side of the business was placed in liquidation after that licence was revoked on technical grounds some months ago. If a new licence was issued, that side of works at the site would be taken over by a large national company, bringing perhaps a further 10 jobs.

Mr Ford said: "We shall continue our liaison meetings with the local community and by the year 2000, if landscaping plans with Burnley Council, the local landowners, and ourselves go ahead, Burnley and Cliviger will be proud of the intended tree-planting which will cover 22 acres of this area."

At county, councillors heard both Burnley and the local parish council objected to the licence applications on the grounds of dangers to the environment and nuisance to neighbours.

Four individual letters of objection were also heard.

But North West Water and the Environment Agency had no objections in principle to the proposal.

County officers say they accept the landfill facilities would be required for the foreseeable future and it was considered it was a fundamentally well-placed and valuable site "that should be permitted to fulfil its potential and Lancashire's needs for the short to medium term, provided it is properly cotrolled through conditions."

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