HELSTON and St Ives MP Derek Thomas has written to the secretary of state to reinforce the concerns of people living on The Lizard over plans to extract stone from Dean Quarry to help build a tidal lagoon in Wales.

While welcoming the government's backing of the Swansea Tidal Bay Lagoon Project, Mr Thomas has told Amber Rudd MP, that he stands firm over his opposition to the quadrupling the size of the quarry to supply stone for its construction.

Mr Thomas said: “Following the announcement that the Department of Energy and Climate Change has backed the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project, I felt it was important to raise local people's concerns once again about plans to source the stone from Dean Quarry. I have long held the view that the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project and Dean Quarry are not mutually dependent, and the potential impact on the Manacles Marine Conservation Zone should not be underestimated."

Writing to Amber Rudd MP, Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, Derek called for the department to ensure that any government-funded project delivered value for money for tax payers. He highlighted that alternative suppliers had stated they could offer greater value for money which would reduce the detrimental impact such a project would have on the local area.

Derek also wrote to George Eustice MP, Minister of State for Farming, Food and the Marine Environment, raising serious concerns over the Marine Conservation Zone and the potential violation of laws that protect such areas from harmful projects. He asked that the department investigate this further.

Finally, Derek wrote to Phil Mason, head of planning, housing and regeneration, at Cornwall Council, emphasising the concern shared by many about the effect the project could have on tourism and businesses that work in the area.

He says he is now awaiting a response from all three and says he will post their answers on his website.

Shire Oak Quarries, which wants to re-open Dean Quarry, says it has always maintained that any future quarrying activity would remain within the footprint of the existing quarry, and it is looking at signing away the mineral rights outside the quarry footprint to the local community.

The company has also said it would not be shipping rock to Swansea Bay unless contracted to do so by the marine works contractor selected to build the tidal lagoon wall. A planning application and marine licence application are being prepared to enable access to Dean Quarry by sea, but have not yet been submitted to the relevant authorities.