Sibelco UK operates North Park Quarry located to the north of Bletchingley village. The quarry has been in operation since the late 1970’s, before which the Company (then known as British Industrial Sand) extracted sand further to the east near Godstone. The sand extracted at North Park Quarry is from the Cretaceous, Lower Greensand horizon and is one of the highest quality sands in the UK for the manufacture of clear glass (bottles, jars and window glass). North Park Quarry is one of only three quarries in England capable of supplying sands of this quality to the UK glass industry.
Sibelco UK is the country’s foremost extractor, processor and supplier of specialist industrial sands, supplying many of the UK’s key manufacturing sectors. It supplies a range of specialist high grade silica sand (industrial sands) to industrial markets from sites throughout the UK including flat glass, coloured and colourless container glass, foundry, paint, ceramics, water filtration and amenity/leisure industries.
The sand from North Park Quarry was, until 2005, transferred to Holmethorpe near Redhill for processing. However, since 2006 the sand has been processed in a new processing plant located within North Park Quarry and despatched using a dedicated road linking to the M25 at Junction 6 to the north of Godstone village.
The Company is in the process of seeking permission to extend operations onto land to the west of the current quarry in order to secure future mineral reserves to maintain supply to customers on a national basis. The Company is in full dialogue with local Parish Councils and other groups in relation to the present planning application.
Sibelco UK has, for many years, operated a community liaison group with representatives from parish councils, District and County Council, local groups and local residents at which matters relating to ongoing and planned site activities are discussed. More recently, an additional group has been set up to specifically discuss matters relating to dust. A new regime for dust monitoring has been implemented in early 2011 and the Company continues to invest in water sprays and other industry best practice measures to continually improve performance in relation to dust management at the quarry. These measures and result from the extensive monitoring network will continue to be discussed and refined through the local quarry liaison groups.
If residents wish to discuss any aspect of the operations at North Park Quarry they can contact the Company via nicola.cole@sibelco.com or 01270 752522
Sibelco UK, February 2011
NORTH PARK QUARRY COMMUNITY LIAISON MINUTES:
NPQ Community Liaison Minutes 28 July 2010 (FINAL)
NPQ Community Liaison Minutes 12 May 2010
