EDINBURGH locals have expressed concern over the potential expansion of the Bonnington Quarry near Ratho.
Responding to a planning application received last November, over 300 locals have objected to expansion at the site, stating that it will cause harm to the surrounding environment.
The Bonnington Mains Quarry extracts minerals from the earth and provides construction materials for the central belt of Scotland.
Expansion will involve a lateral extension to the quarry, as well as the erection of a Materials Recycling Plant.
Breedon Trading Ltd, who currently own and oversee the quarry, state in their application that extraction at the site will be completed by September 2050, and work to restore and infill the area will be finished by 2052.
Development of the quarry, which is located to the west of Edinburgh near Ratho and Bonnington, started in the 1990s and primarily supplies Edinburgh and the Lothians.
One agitated local posted to social media last week, saying “Ratho at risk: The plan is for a large industrial scale plant handling potentially toxic waste within Ratho’s boundaries
“This will negatively affect the entire village and surrounding settlements. There are no benefits to Ratho or its population.
“What to do: Comment on the city development portal (lots of advice available) this weekend.
“The most effective objections will be ones that reference dust, noise, pollution, traffic (even if the HGV are meant to go through Newbridge, it will still impact the village), the fact it’s completely against Edinburgh Council’s own green belt policies, the negative effects on wildlife and the fact that it’s entirely inappropriate to have a facility of this type just metres from residential homes.
“Spread the word as widely as possible. It is vital that as many as possible comment: This floodlight 24-hour industrial plant is nothing like the quarries that were part and parcel of Ratho’s history.
“Objections close this weekend – with the prevailing westerly winds all the dust and pollution from this asphalt plant and landfill will blow down into the village -onto you and your homes.
“(Re-sharing to highlight that this is a new application, distinct to the previous ones.)”
With 410 public comments, the application has over 300 objections from those who believe the extension should not go ahead.
Locals have previously protested an expansion of the quarry, such as when it was first suggested in 2023.
Last year, Breedon Group additionally requested that the council lift the limits on their blasts, a decision which was refused due to impacts on locals who often feel the aftershocks of the extractions.
Though comments were initially meant to be in before yesterday, the deadline for responses was pushed back to 21 February, so that more locals can have their say.
