JUBILANT Grimley villagers were celebrating yesterday after winning their fight to stop a field being turned into a quarry.

Councillors approved a planning application by Tarmac Ltd to extend Ball Mill Quarry, Grimley, into an area called Church Farm West, but imposed a condition preventing the quarrying of Church Farm South, which is known locally as the Sacred Field.

The field is adjacent to Grimley's main street and directly opposite a row of houses. However, the villagers' joy may be shortlived. Legal advisers have warned councillors their decision could be overturned on appeal.

The approval to quarry sand and gravel from Church Farm West was granted by Worcestershire County Council's planning and regulatory committee.

Councillors had indicated conditional approval was their preferred outcome at a meeting on Tuesday, September 12, but deferred the final decision to allow Tarmac to make further representations.

The company presented the committee with letters of support from staff and local businesses and Tarmac's senior estates surveyor Stuart Lawrence said: "We have support from local people. Many are reliant on the continued operation of Ball Mill Quarry for their livelihoods."

He said the sand and gravel would be used to build houses, schools and hospitals in the county.

However, speaking for villagers opposed to the scheme Robert Garman appealed to councillors to stand by their resolution and not allow the village's last undisturbed field to be quarried.

He said: "Residents of Grimley fear for the quality of life in the village if the quarry is permitted."

An extra twist was added to proceedings when the council's principal solicitor Alan Moore told councillors they could legally restrict extraction to Church Farm West but added: "To exercise your legal power may have consequences."

His comments support the view of planning officers that the decision may be difficult to defend on appeal because the distance between the proposed quarry and the village adheres to environmental policy.

After the meeting, Mr Garman said: "We are pleased the committee have accepted the case that has been constantly put forward by residents of Grimley and the parish council and that they have stuck by their decision."

Mr Lawrence said: "We are disappointed that the application did not receive full approval. We will now consider the options available to us."

by the planning committee today.

"We will now consider the options available to us."