PROTESTORS turned up the volume in a row about a Kingswinford quarry with a demonstration on the steps of Dudley Council House.

A group of campaigners fighting plans to extend operations at Ketley Quarry gathered to hand over a petition to the authority's development control committee ahead of their meeting on October 29.

The 1,100 name petition calls on committee members to throw out an application for permission to crush inert waste like demolition rubble for recycling at the controversial quarry.

The campaign has the support of all three Kingswinford South ward councillors who say increases in operations at the quarry make peoples' lives a misery.

Cllr David Blood said: "I would like the planning committee to go and see what the problems are, we have got a new development control committee since the May election and they don't know the problems related to the quarry."

Campaigners say trucks using the quarry leave mud and debris on the busy Dudley Road while dust and noise from the quarry blights their homes and neighbouring businesses.

Prostestors also question support for the application from people living many miles from the quarry site.

Although there are roughly equal numbers of published letters of support and objection for the application on the authority's website, campaigners say objectors live close to the site while some supporters' homes are many miles from the quarry, in places like Bewdley, Bromsgrove and Shropshire.

Cllr Shaukat Ali, cabinet member for regeneration, said: "All issues raised with the local planning authority are considered through the normal process as long as they are material planning considerations."

A Dudley Council spokesperson confirmed addresses on letters of support are not a material planning consideration.

Meanwhile protestors say they will keep up pressure on councillors to reject the plan, which is yet to be debated by the committee, and say they are planning more demonstrations.