A QUARRY near Newbrough and Fourstones could be worked for the first time in 40 years to supply a growing demand for sandstone.

But a planning application by Border Stone Quarries to extract 5,000 tonnes of sandstone over a five-year period at Prudham Quarry, in the Frankham area, has been met with opposition.

Residents are worried that the woodland setting of the quarry, one kilometre north-west of Fourstones village, will have an adverse effect on wildlife.

Red squirrels are known to be in the area, which was visited by Prince Harry just over a year ago as part of a campaign to halt the decline of the red squirrel population.

The quarry was previously worked for sandstone between 1830 and 1920, and much later, in the 1970s.

Now the Haltwhistle-based applicants say they want to quarry only a small, one hectare portion of what was originally a much larger site.

In a planning statement, Border Stone Quarries said sandstone was required to restore older buildings which were constructed using the material.

It said: “It is thought that the town hall in Newbrough was constructed from Prudham stone and it is more than likely that the majority of the stone-built buildings in this area were constructed from stone from the quarry.

“Now a number of the remaining buildings from this era are being restored, including listed buildings, and this has created a demand for a compatible stone.”

The firm referred to a habitat and protected species survey carried out in 2014, and updated in August 2015.

The statement added: “There is the potential for red squirrels in the area but there are no dreys within the application site.

“There was no sign of badgers, no suitable roost sites for bats within the rock faces or the trees and no habitats suitable for reptiles or great crested newts.”

The firm insists a restoration scheme would enable the area to recolonise naturally.

One of over 20 objectors said: “The reopening of this quarry must be stopped. It will impact the local biodiversity, especially that of Frankham woods, which is on the front line of red squirrel conservation. The reopening of this quarry is irresponsible and will be damaging to a wide variety of important species, not only squirrels but also owls, newts and other mammals.”

Although the quarry would be worked “sporadically” throughout the year, objectors fear it could also lead to traffic congestion on minor roads.

For many years, the Frankham area was home to a landfill site, and in September last year, campaigners won their fight to prevent a waste-fuelled power station being developed in Fourstones.