Sarah Dines MP has brought together the police, Middle Peak Quarry owners ‘Tarmac’, the onsite security team and Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service to address residents concerns and highlight the very real danger of trespassing at Middle Peak Quarry as many have been so dangerously doing over recent weeks.
On her first visit to the site, where she brought along Chief Superintendent Hayley Barnett the Divisional Police Commander and met with on-site security, she saw for herself hundreds of trespassers on the site under the influence of alcohol jumping from the heights of the quarry rocks.
Sarah Dines MP said:
‘I would describe my first visit to Middle Peak Quarry in Wirksworth as a rave. There were hundreds of people acting recklessly with no thought for their own safety or the feelings of the local community. I had brought along with me the Chief Superintendent Divisional Commander and together we did all we could to clear the site and follow-up with local residents afterwards who are so horrifically impacted by this’
‘Following my first visit I was so horrified about what I witnessed, concerned for local residents, and for safety, that I took immediate follow-up action’
After her first visit Sarah Dines MP contacted the site owners Tarmac, The Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service and again the Divisional Commander to invite them all to a socially distanced ‘round table meeting’ at the site the following week (Saturday 6th June) to highlight the issues faced and chair a discussion so as to stand up for local residents and ensure their views were heard. She then drove around the local country lanes again of The Dale and Green Hill to speak to residents there.
On her second visit, Sarah Dines MP said:
‘On bringing together the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue, Divisional Police Chief Superintendent, quarry owners Tarmac and onsite security for a visit lasting several hours we were able to constructively work through problems being faced by residents with all parties being physically present at a social distance.
Those that choose to speed through our quiet country lanes such as The Dale and Greenhill, break through security perimeters at this site and put themselves in danger, are doing so at such a great cost to residents with potentially a great cost to their own lives and the lives of the rescue services. This is unacceptable and I’m really worried as I know residents are that there will be a serious incident here if people choose to act so dangerously.
Officers of the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue, who discussed Fire Service water rescue, told the gathered parties that it is simply not possible to conduct a water rescue at the site. The water is over 10m deep, colder than a river or sea, and poses a number of life-threatening risks including heart attack on entering the water and drowning. The areas on site are not safe for trespassers. This is a disused quarry, with on-site security, a new K-9 dog security unit, has been dyed black, and is fenced off for a reason’
The parties present on Saturday are meeting tomorrow to form a plan to tackle anti-social behaviour ahead of this weekend.
End.
