NEWS that there will be an increase in activity and lorry movements from Alltgoch Quarry has been met with fury in nearby Cwrtnewydd­.

Narberth-based Gerald D Harries & Sons Ltd, who operate at the quarry, say it is the result of being reawarded a major contract they thought had been lost to a competitor.

But one local, who declined to be named, accused the company of ‘reneging’ on a claim last month that lorry movements would soon be reduced.

“If they think for one moment they are going to turn us into some sort of industrial highway then think again – we will not tolerate this,” he told the Cambrian News.

“The roads are starting to tear up and the dust in the air is causing a health issue – I’ve also had shelves falling off the wall.

“I just feel that there is no-one with any power to do anything about what is going on.

“They keep trotting out this old chestnut about creating jobs at a time of austerity, yet how many people have to suffer for the sake of 16 jobs?”

It is the latest twist in a long-running dispute with villagers who claim they are having to put up with at least 50 lorries a day passing through their community.

Now, a Ceredigion County Council officer has revealed it is likely that the company will be operating at full capacity for some considerable time, but had given assurances that all lorries would be loaded and sheeted and not leave the site before 7am, exiting via one route and returning via another; there would be no speeding or dangerous driving; muddied lorry wheels would be cleaned before leaving the site and the road would be swept on a regular basis.

See this week’s South Ceredigion paper for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now