Armstrong’s Aggregates have won a planning appeal granting permission for the erection of offices, extension to maintenance sheds, the formation of hard standing for HGV parking and wash areas at their Montcliffe and Pilkington quarries base off George’s Lane in Horwich. Previously constructed without planning permission Bolton Council last year refused planning consent which Horwich North East Labour Councillor described as an ‘industrial estate’.

Cllr. Silvester says he is bitterly disappointed with the outcome. He said, ‘I along with numerous residents in the local vicinity and beyond in Horwich objected to what had occurred. The Armstrong’s site just seems to get bigger and bigger. Locally we refused the application however a Planning Inspector from the Government then comes along only to overturn that decision which is incredibly frustrating. I have received a number of e-mails from residents to say how upset they are. They are sick to the back teeth of what is going on with the amount of lorries, noise, dust and dirt on local roads as well as the road surface of George’s Lane being in an atrocious condition because of all of the heavy lorries using it. We will however keep up our resolve and continue to object and fight against continued expansion of operations at the quarries’.