RESIDENTS are being consulted on plans to extend the working life of a limestone quarry in County Durham by a further 15-years.

Lafarge Tarmac is seeking approval to secure the long-term future of Thrislington Quarry, near West Cornforth.

The mineral extractor draws out limestone and sand from the 150 hectare site.

Lafarge supports 165 jobs and estimates that it pumps £10m a year into the local economy via the quarry.

It is drawing up proposals to submit to Durham County Council early in the new year to extend the life time of the western end of the quarry.

The quarry is split by the A1 and Lafarge already has approval to quarry the eastern side of the site until 2045.

Residents living near to the site are being consulted on the proposals with more than 7,000 homes delivered leaflets inviting homeowners to a public display in 2015.

David Atkinson, estates manager for Lafarge, said: “It’s important to us that our neighbours get the opportunity to give us feedback on our proposals to secure the long term future of Thrislington.

“It’s a significant part of the local economy and an important supplier of construction materials for the whole region.”

The planning application is within the current site boundaries and as the ore is removed it is proposed to restore the majority of the site to a mix of grassland and farm land.

Other activities at Thrislington include a concrete plant, an aggregate recycling operation and an aggregate bagging plant.

Most of the quarry’s products are delivered by road but a growing amount is now moved about the country by rail.

Lafarge also hope to build a tunnel under the A1 linking the east and the west sections of the quarry at some point in the next few years.

The Lafarge proposals are to go on public display over two days at the West Cornforth Community Centre on Station Road.

They will be on show between 2pm and 7pm on Wednesday, January 7, and also between 10am and 3pm on Thursday, January 8. Staff will be on hand to answer questions.