Create a railhead at Horton Quarry and continue other measures to reduce road haulage limits from quarries by 50% compared to 2011.
How the local partners are doing on this objective
Progress: Road haulage levels in 2022 remained the same as 2021, with a 36% reduction compared to 2011. Planning permission has been granted for the new railhead at Horton Quarry and work is due to commence in summer 2023. The railhead is on course to be operational in late 2024.
Rationale: Road haulage is generally agreed to be the most harmful remaining impact of the 5 large aggregate quarries in the National Park. Good progress has previously been made through Tarmac installing a new rail siding in 2016 to serve Arcow and Dry Rigg quarries – reducing road haulage in Ribblesdale by 35%. Significant opportunities remain at Horton Quarry, which has permission to operate until 2042.
Supporting partners: Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority; Freight Quality Partnership; North Yorkshire Council; Westmorland & Furness Council; Lancashire County Council;
Further information: n/a
Cost over 5 years: n/a
Funding shortfall: n/a
Ecosystem services: Tranquillity; Climate regulation
Trade-offs: Creation of a new railhead will have some short- and long-term impacts on the landscape. These impacts will be minimised and mitigated through application of the range of policies set out in the Yorkshire Dales Local Plan.
Baseline: 2011 annual road haulage limit = 2.75 m tonnes. 2017 limit was £2.3 m tonnes