ANGRY residents fear that plans to extend a nearby quarry could make their lives a misery.

Residents in the Belbroughton area are unhappy after Salop Sand and Gravel Limited applied to extend the existing Chadwich Lane Quarry and build a new access road.

At a meeting last week, Bromsgrove District Council's planning committee agreed to the plans, under the condition that a new access road is built before work on the quarry begins.

The scheme is due to come before Worcestershire County Council at a date yet to be confirmed.

But residents fear that the scheme will bring the quarry closer to their homes. They are also concerned by increased noise and traffic in nearby roads, such as Bonfire Hill and Money Lane.

John Poulton, of Harbours Hill, who at just 200 yards away is the closest resident to the site, said that locals would be faced with constant dust, noise and traffic problems.

"Our main concerns are the dust, dirt, the noise and traffic created by the site," he said.

"It is not very nice to be affected by this when you have got something on."

District councillor Janice Boswell (Con-Furlongs) said: "The district council performed a site visit and has given its views. The application is now in the hands of the county council."

dan.harrison@midlands.

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