Life's Essentials

Quarrying is an essential part of every day life. Every home, school, hospital and office is built with quarried products. Aggregates also provide the basis of our transport networks; roads, railways, harbours and airports – as well as our power and water systems. Products such as paper, plastic, glass, steel, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and even some foods are made using material from quarries. The annual consumption of aggregate is equivalent to about four tonnes for every person in the UK.

Around 250 million tonnes of aggregate are produced each year in the UK alone although this is less per person than most other European countries.The quarrying industry plays an important part of the British economy, with aggregates sales worth over £3,000 million per year.

Children & Quarries
Children sometimes see quarries as places to play but they can be extremely dangerous with numerous potential hazards such as moving machinery, deep water and steep cliff faces. Each year Lafarge takes part in the Quarry Products Association's "Play Safe Stay Safe" campaign to help make children aware of the dangers and avoid tragic accidents. More information for children is available in the QPA's Kids Zone.

Virtual Quarry
The Quarry Products Association's Virtual Quarry is an educational resource aimed at teachers and pupils.

Public Participation
Planning must work as a partnership and involve the community to deliver sustainable development in the right place at the right time. Planning affects everyone and all those involved in the system have a role to play in delivering effective and inclusive planning. Under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act263, local planning authorities will be required to prepare a Statement of Community Involvement, in which they will set out their policy on involving their community in preparing LDDs and on consulting on planning applications.

Further information
For further information about quarrying in the UK visit the website of the Quarry Products Association.