A QUARRY near Severn Stoke is bidding to enlarge its operation to allow it to keep mining sand and gravel for the next eight or nine years.

Tarmac Limited has asked Worcestershire County Council for permission to expand Clifton Quarry over nearly half as much ground again.

The quarry, which yields around 250,000 tonnes of material from its 86.7-hectare site every year, is scheduled to keep mining for another four to five years.

The plans would see it access approximately one million more tonnes from a further 37 hectares, prolonging the life of the quarry until around 2011.

As it finishes mining, it would fill the site with lakes (including one suitable for fishing), agricultural land, woodland and wetlands suitable for breeding waders.

The result involves six lakes, two blocks of woodland, planting of reed and black poplar and provision of bat boxes.

This process would take place at the same time as the expansion, with soil excavated from one section of the site being re-laid on other parts that have already been finished with.

Malcolm Lawer, estates manager for Tarmac Western, said he estimates final restoration works would be completed 12 months after production finishes at the quarry.

He stressed the plans do not entail any changes to the day-to-day activities at the site, methods of working and mineral processing or rates of production. No new access or buildings will be required.

The expansion will involve the removal of 650 metres of hedgerow, including a 100-metre stretch designated as "important" by law, a "small number" of trees, and destruction of habitat suitable for skylarks, song thrushes and badgers.

However, Mr Lawer said work carried out by Tarmac has concluded that the proposals would provide a better habitat for wildlife in the long term.

"We feel that the end product is going to be an improvement on what's going to be there at the moment," he said.

Worcestershire Wildlife Trust spokesman Andy Graham said the organisation would be studying the application before making any comment.