NORTON Town Council is to write to the county council calling for a meeting to discuss the future of Whitewall Quarry.

The quarry had been earmarked as a discounted site in the Minerals and Waste Joint Plan that has been prepared by North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC), the City of York Council and the North York Moors National Park Authority.

However, following an examination by a Government-appointed inspector of the plan, she has recommended that a small number of sites that were to be not included, should instead be allocated to meet the requirements of the plan. These included two sites at Whitewall Quarry in Norton, owned by W Clifford Watts Ltd, an area for the extraction of limestone and an area for the recycling of construction, demolition and soil waste.

However, racehorse trainer Mark Campion, who lives near the quarry, told the town council he had concerns over the inspector’s recommendations and enforcement of planning regulations.

“I understand that Norton Town Council has responded to the consultation for the Mineral and Waste Plan at an early stage and would ask the council to write again to ask, regarding concerns which remain unresolved relating to amenity at Whitewall Quarry,” he said.

“Secondly, how the county council plans to condition the site when an application is forthcoming for a further extension.”

Cllr Sharon Cawte said it was important to remember that the quarry provided jobs for local people.

“If it were to close these people would lose their jobs,” she said.

“There is also the possibility that the quarry could become a refuge site as the current waste site at Thornton Dale is nearly fully.”

Norton mayor Cllr Ray King said he felt that a meeting should be held between the quarry owners and interested parties.

“I suggest that we write to the county council and saying that issues have been raised an suggest a joint meeting including the Environment Agency, police, district council and ourselves,” he added.

A spokesman for NYCC said: "The extra sites to be allocated, including the two at Whitewall Quarry, will form part of a table of main modifications to the Minerals and Waste Joint Plan that the authorities will publish for consultation later this year.

“The consultation period will be a minimum of six weeks.

"Representations received in this consultation will be taken into account by the inspector in completing her report which will recommend whether the plan can go forward for adoption.”