Worried villagers have set up a campaign group to protest against plans that would transform a quarry on the Lizard Peninsula into a 24-hour working site.

An estimated 130 people braved heavy wind and rain to attend a meeting called by St Keverne Parish Council, at the Methodist hall.

Councillors wanted to hear the views of parishioners about plans by Shire Oak Quarries Ltd to develop a 600-metre long breakwater at Dean Quarry to form a tidal lagoon in the area around the Manacles.

This would mean that the company could load and ship rock 24 hours a day, regardless of the tides that currently hamper movements.

Protestors say the company wants to remove 1.5 million tonnes of rock a year, which would put it into the “super quarry” bracket. Currently there is only one other such quarry in the UK, in a remote area |of Scotland.

As a result of last week’s meeting a |ten-strong committee has now formed, calling itself Community Against Dean Superquarry.

Chairing the group is Richard Martin, with Sue Englefield as secretary. Making up the rest of the committee is Professor Paul Racey, Jo Anselmi, John Vipond, Amanda Waller, Silke Roskilly, Jacci Jourdan, Richard Sharp and Wendy Lapides.

Their aim is to ensure the community is aware of the plans and oppose the plans to turn the facility into a super quarry.

The company already has permission to quarry during daylight hours Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm, and for a half day on Saturday, with permission to load 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

But the campaigners fear that by creating the larger breakwater this will allow for |ten tonne barges to visit, at all times of the day – as tides will no longer be a factor – and this could lead to increased noise, light pollution and heavy traffic, both on road and in the water.

Wendy Lapides told the Packet: “No |one is against Dean Quarry as it’s been |run in the past. We’re against it being turned into a super quarry.”

She said this was being done “very close” to the residential areas of Rosenithon and St Keverne, with Coverack, an important tourist draw, nearby.

Fellow committee member Jo Anselmi, who runs a scuba diving centre at Porthkerris, said: “The Manacles are in the marine conservation zone and in an area |of outstanding natural beauty. We get divers coming here from all |over the world to scuba dive |the Manacles.”

She added that people in the area were concerned about noise and dust pollution, including increased traffic along narrow country lanes, with the main route to the quarry going past Roskilly’s Farm.

“They want to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They’re not going to blast during the night, but they want to load at all states of tide.

“There won’t necessarily be noise from blasting, but from loading great big blocks into barges. And light pollution, because they will need lights,” added Jo.

The Packet has contacted Shire Oak Quarries’ agents for a response.