A PLAN to restore the area around a landfill quarry into an area of woodland, hedgerows and wetland has been submitted.

Booth Ventures, which runs Harwood quarry on Brookfold Lane, has lodged their aftercare evaluation with Bolton Council as part of their permission to operate.

The report, which was produced by consultants Wardell Armstrong, outlines aspirations for ‘the recreational and amenity value of the restored site’.

The report states: “Aftercare of the site is important for the successful establishment of the vegetation.

“Annual maintenance meetings will be held on site to review the previous year’s management.

“Aftercare will comprise the maintenance of the restored site over a statutory period of five years to ensure the successful establishment of the target habitats.”

The work will include ‘management of existing and new woodlands, ‘repair and maintenance of post and wire fencing’ and ‘maintenance of hedgerows including pruning and cutting as required’.

The plans also pledges ‘conservation of the flora and fauna of the newly established grasslands, wetlands and woodlands through a low nitrogen input regime’.

In 2013, Bolton Council approved a scheme by Booth Ventures for a 2.32-hectare expansion and a 15-year time extension to operate the site.

At that time opponents claimed the expansion, which resulted in an estimated extra 45 HGVs per day travelling to and from the site, would lead to increased noise pollution, vibration, fumes and dust.

In June 2018, a landslip led to the quarry halting operations while safety concerns were addressed.

However, the Environment Agency later quashed fears that the landslide could cause danger to residents.

The aftercare report gave more detail on tree-planting and hedgerow maintenance after the quarry ceases operations.

It said: “The trees in the woodland areas will be thinned to leave the canopy trees with an average spacing of between around 6-10m, with interspersed under-storey trees, the timing of thinning will be dependent on local growth conditions of the trees.

“The woodland edges will have been scalloped to form sheltered areas creating a diversity of micro-climates.

“Scalloped areas along woodland edges attract flying invertebrates; these in turn have the potential to become prey items for bird and bat species.

“The base of the hedgerows would be kept weed-free for at least three years to ensure a good plant establishment and growth rate.”