Residents are being asked to give their views to keep one of the county’s main quarries open until 2055.

Heidelberg Materials operates Whatley Quarry, located near the village of Mells to the west of Frome, which provides limestone for a wide range of construction projects both within Somerset and across the UK.

The company secured permission from Somerset Council in late-July to reopen Westdown Quarry, near East Cranmore, which will focus on meeting local demand from the end of 2027.

People’s views are now being sought on extending the working life of Whatley Quarry, with a series of drop-in events being planned before formal plans are submitted later in the year.

Whatley Quarry has been supplying vital building materials for use in construction for nearly 100 years using its dedicated rail link to supply both local markets and national infrastructure projects.

Material from the quarry has supported nationally important infrastructure schemes, including the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station and HS2.

Closer to home, material has been used throughout Somerset for road maintenance, including the B3135 through Cheddar Gorge, and on a range of philanthropic projects such as resurfacing the playground at Mells Church of England First School or extending the Strawberry Line active travel route through Cheddar.

To make the most of existing limestone reserves, Heidelberg Materials wishes to extend extraction within the existing quarry boundary, as well as extending the time-frame in which it can operate by up to 25 years.

The additional material would be released by “re-profiling and deepening” different sections within the existing footprint of the quarry, allowing it to meet both local and national demand up to 2055.

Three public drop-in events surrounding the plans, giving residents the chance to speak to the company and ask questions to its specialists, will be staged on the following dates: Tuesday October 6 at The Church of the Holy Trinity in Chantry, Thursday October 8 at Nunney Village Hall and Thursday October 15, at Mells Tithe Barn, all from 3 to 8.30pm.

For those unable to attend the physical events, an online drop-in will be staged on Tuesday, October 22 between 7pm and 8pm. Those wishing to attend must register in advance by visiting www.heidelbergmaterials.co.uk/whatley/future.

Trystan Mabbitt, strategic development manager at Heidelberg Materials UK, said: “Limestone from Whatley Quarry is recognised as a nationally significant resource used for the construction and maintenance of homes, schools, hospitals and roads.

“Our proposals would secure supplies of limestone for both national and regional construction projects, as well as sustaining local jobs on site and in the supply chain.

“It would also mean Whatley would continue to contribute to the local and national economy, estimated to be worth more than £75m per year.

“We look forward to welcoming local people to our drop-in events to answer any questions they may have and to listen to feedback that will help shape our final plans.”