Nine Ladies In Trouble!

A new camp has been set up to defend Stanton moor in the Derbyshire part of the peak district. Stancliffe Stone have been granted permission to quarry 35 acres of woodland and meadows around the Nine Ladies stone circle on Stanton Moor. The quarry will destroy wildlife habitats including bat roosts, badger setts and rare plants, as well as threatening the water table, increasing lorry traffic and causing noise and pollution. Planning permission was granted in 1952 and it would never be approved if it went up for planning now. The park authorities are trying to fight it, and have imposed a stop order on Stancliffe Stone for the moment, but as experience tells us, this might not stop it, and Stancliffe Stone can appeal against any guidelines given to them. The protest camp has just been set up so they need more people, equipment and any other help you can offer. The camp has good local support, especially since the quarry company has been threatening villagers with violence, including a local shop for having a stop the quarry petition.

Get the train to Matlock, then the Wensley / Winster / Bakewell bus to Stanton Peak (nearest village to the Nine Ladies) or tel: 07974049369 or 07977748436. Website http://pages.zoom.co.uk/~nineladies/.