Plan to expand Lomond Quarry operations until 2040, but away from homes in Leslie

Skene Group has spent 40 years extracting sand and gravel from the quarry, near Leslie, and has a licence to operate until 2032.

Last year, the firm tabled suggestions of extending their licence by another eight years to meet a continued national demand for minerals used in the construction of buildings and roads.

Following public consultation, it has now submitted a full planning application to Fife Council.

In the application, Skene has detailed how it will restore disused parts of the pit to introduce grassland and, eventually, flood the chasm to create a new reservoir. The proposals will create 15 new jobs while continuing to support Lomond's 130 existing employees.

The firm has also proposed extending blasting into agricultural land north-east of the site, away from Leslie, to reduce disruption to the village.

Residents have complained for years about shocks from explosions as workers carry out blasting to extract the mineral dolerite from the rocks.

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Skene says it will no longer blast the areas closest to the village, limiting its activity in the southern parts of the quarry to extracting sand and gravel.

An environmental impact assessment said the intention of the extension was to "reduce potential negative impacts on residents and mitigate the impacts of operations" on Leslie as a whole.

Tests performed by experts in noise and vibration at locations along Leslie's northern edge have concluded that the works at the extension should not be disruptive, nor cause "cosmetic damage" to surrounding homes.

The report concluded: "Lomond Quarry has operated successfully and within regulations for 10 years, providing essential mineral products to the Fife market. However, during this time there have been a range of concerns raised by the community.

"The proposals to extend the quarry working area to the north east with no further hard rock extraction to the southern edge of the site would provide the opportunity to reduce existing residential amenity impacts whilst still allowing the quarry to operate satisfactorily."

Fife Council is expected to make a decision before the end of March.

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