Quarry dust is getting worse - it's 'constant'

A CHEDDAR resident has rubbished claims that dust from a village quarry was temporary, saying that the problem is actually getting progressively worse. Linda Williams, aged 52, of Kent Street says she is concerned about what the dust from Batts Coombe Quarry could be doing to her health. Linda, who is a finance officer for the NHS, said: "The amount of dust in the air really worries me as I am asthmatic. If this dust is floating around the village, what is it doing to our lungs?"I moved in to Kent Street about three and a half years ago and I knew the quarry was nearby, but it wasn't a problem. There was a little bit of dust floating around but it was nothing compared to the last 10 months. I understand the quarry has had a few problems, but this isn't an isolated incident, the dust is constant."Linda says she no longer bothers cleaning her car, will not leave her washing out and only opens windows a fraction because of the dust. She contacted the Somerset Mercury after reading an article in last week's paper in which Hanson Quarries, which owns Batts Coombe, said the increase in dust was down to dry weather and a temporary shut down of equipment which stopped dust coming out of the kiln. Linda said: "I did try to complain once, but the manager I spoke to was very rude. I am not usually a person to complain but after reading the article I had to contact the paper. I would urge anyone else who has had similar problems to get in touch with the newspaper and the quarry."A Hanson Quarries spokesman said: "Anyone who has a complaint about the quarry needs to ring staff there directly as soon as something happens so they can deal with it. "We are coming into summer and have had very dry weather which can cause natural dust in the air. The quarry is strictly regulated by environmental health officers and Somerset County Council and I can assure everyone there is no health risk from the dust.