VILLAGERS are divided over plans to reopen an old quarry near Dorchester.

Some are calling for councillors to turn down plans to extract limestone from a quarry that has been abandoned for the past 25 years.

But others want to see the diggers start up again because they say the site, between Maiden Newton, Chilfrome and Toller Fratum, may create jobs.

A planning application to quarry 2.29 hectares of land from the former Whitesheet Quarry will go before Dorset County Council members at a meeting in the summer.

The quarry’s owners from Bridport have applied for permission to quarry the land between 7am and 11pm.

Resident Stuart De Feira, of Frome Vauchurch, said he was concerned about large vehicles passing through the village and noise levels coming from the quarry.

He added: “There’s going to be lorries carrying 20 tonnes of limestone through the village.

“There’s no pavement on the main road and we’re going to have all these lorries going backwards and forwards.

“People are going to be put in danger.”

Parish councillors will decide whether Maiden Newton Parish Council will put forward an objection to the plans at their next meeting.

Parish councillor Mike Andrews said: “I myself am happy with it.

“But it’s up to the parish people to speak out if they are unhappy.”

His fellow councillor Norman House said he would welcome the reopening of the quarry because it would provide jobs.

“The crushing machinery is a lot quieter now. I think it will be nice to have the quarry back because they say there will be up to four jobs provided.

“When I was younger it was quite a hive of activity. It’s a bit of an eyesore at the moment because it’s been abandoned,” he said.

Sally Falkingham, chairwoman of the parish council, said: “If the quarry does re-open, there are things we have to watch very carefully.

“I think it will tidy up a rather derelict site, but it depends on how it’s implemented. There are all sorts of issues that have to be discussed at our meeting.

“Noise levels could be a problem because the sound travels across the valley.”

Parish resident Paul Valinski thinks that the return of the quarry can only be positive news for the area.

He said: “We need something to be done because it’s a dangerous area. All the time I’ve lived here the quarry has been a problem. There are lots of areas where people can get through the fence. The last time I was up there the mess was horrific.”