Villagers are dismayed that a decision on whether to allow a former quarry to reopen has been delayed yet again.

An application to quarry sandstone from Prudham Quarry, near Fourstones, was submitted by Haltwhistle- based Border Stone Quarries in April 2016.

It was due to go before Northumberland County Council’s strategic planning committee on Tuesday, but was removed from the agenda after a fresh objection from the Environment Agency was submitted last Friday. The agency’s latest objection is on the grounds that the risk to groundwater is unacceptable.

The quarry site is home to a body of water known as the ‘Blue Lagoon’ which is connected to a spring on land near David Curry’s house.

The spring caused a flood the last time sandstone was removed from the quarry in 2013, and Mr Curry is objecting to the new application.

At Warden Parish Council on Monday night, Mr Curry said: “We were disappointed to hear that it had been withdrawn (from the agenda). We have been really distressed by this for the past two and a half years.”

Coun. Rupert Gibson added: “Enough is enough, they’re just getting extensions all the time.”