A quarry known for providing Gloucestershire's famous gold stone has been granted permission to double its output despite a substantial campaign by residents.

Johnston Quarry Group can now increase extraction at Oathill Quarry in Temple Guiting from 50,000 to 100,000 tonnes per annum for three years.

It has also been allowed to revise its working scheme and extend the restoration date of the site in Fiddlers Green off the B4077.

The company said the changes to its original planning permission were needed so it can access a large cache of Guiting Gold which it is already permitted to mine but is blocked by an overlying strata of limestone.

Residents fought back saying the increase would exacerbate problems with dust and noise and the safety of roads.

They commissioned Hydrock Limited to investigate "evolving concern" raised by local communities in respect of noise, dust and vibration from the site over the last year.

The work was funded by donations from private individuals, parish councils and community allocated funds made available to elected members.

In September Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) planning committee deferred the application so additional information could be sought regarding the HGV Management Plan.

The proposals came before them again on Thursday (March 21) with a report stating up to 100 HGV movements would be allowed in August and September, reducing to 30 movements during the two winter months- resulting in a maximum of 10 movements per hour.

There would also be daily monitoring via cameras on the quarry weighbridge and a clear mechanism for complaints about speed, poor driving, sheeting, load spillage and mud on road which will be investigated by the quarry operator and council enforcement team.

Kathryn Walker from Toddington Parish Council spoke at the meeting against the plans and said the county council needed to "get a grip" on the cluster of quarries in the area.

"As a parish we have not been consulted about any quarrying applications yet we are affected on a daily basis by the traffic movements of all the quarries in the cluster.

"Significant debris is regularly deposited on local roads, pavements and overfilled lorries travel through village.

"Noise and dust regularly affects the amenities of local residents.. People use their vehicles to make short journeys in the village, children are driven to school bus stops as it's deemed unsafe to cross the road.

"Toddington parish councils together with parish councils from across the area have had joint meetings with our GCC coucillors to share our concerns and as a parish council we supported the request to formally recognize the cluster of quarries.

"The current situation could not be allowed to continue.

"Toddington parish council objects to any further increase in production due to the increase in traffic movements in a residential area and due to the further loss of amenitiy.

"The proposed traffic management plan will not be effective unless GCC gets to grips with activities across the cluster of quarries as a whole."

Cllr Mark Mackenzie-Charrington (C, Stow-on-the-Wold) said he cumulative number of HGVs in the area had reached an "unacceptable level" and while quarries were an important part of the community they must operate without "riding roughshod" over it.

He added: "The HGV management plan isn't that bad and clearly a step in the right direction. If only we could require other operators to fall in line then life and residence be a whole lot better, as would reduce damage to the roads and environment generally."

Mark Sutherland, group general manager for Sigma Rock, which bought Johnston Quarry Group in Janaury 2022, said the company would "continue to work the quarry responsibly and ensure that it welcomed engagement with the community".

Cllr Chris McFarling (Green, Sedbury) proposed to accept the officers recommendations and approve the application.

He said: "I'm not against the quarry company at all. They're doing their best to meet market demand.

"This application enables us to control to take control of the travel movements and that is a great thing because we have been able to do that in the past.

"I also acknowledge my grief that the carbon footprint hasn't been calculated, particularly the transport one which is significant in quarries.

"But I think to object to this on planet grounds would be wrong because this application is not there to save the planet.

"There is concern of the impact on local people and local people tend to get the second best when market forces dominate.

"I really do regret in a way we can't have a conditional approval because I do hear their comments and if it was in my area I would object to this.

"But in the interest of having some sort of control which can be enforced that on balance outweighs the cumulative harm."

The committee voted by majority to approve the application.