BUILDING materials group Hanson Aggregates is to mothball its rock quarrying operations at a North Wales quarry after losing a rail ballast contract with Network Rail.
Up to 16 jobs may be affected by the decision at the Hanson quarry at Penmaenmawr.

The loss of the contract comes on top of a significant decline in the construction market, which has already had a severe impact on output of other stone products from the site.
Site manager Sam Hatchard said consultation with the workforce has begun but he insisted the quarry was not being closed.

He told the Daily Post that the asphalt and ready-mixed concrete production plants at Penmaenmawr will continue to operate as normal. Sales of stone for the local market will also continue from existing stocks.

Mr Hatchard said: “Penmaenmawr quarry has supplied rail ballast to the rail network via Crewe for almost a century.
“The quarry is set up and designed to make rail ballast but the loss of this important contract means we cannot continue production. We very much regret having to mothball the quarry at such a difficult time.”

The downturn in construction activity has already forced Hanson to mothball its nearby St George quarry in Abergele and reduce staff at its Castle Cement works at Padeswood.
The announcement at the end of October meant the company shed 22 jobs at its sites across North Wales.

The job cuts – some of them compulsory – came on top of the mothballing of the company’s Caernarfon brickworks in July with the loss of 50 jobs. Another three positions were being lost at Gwalchmai on Anglesey.

Hanson’s Aberduna Quarry at Maeshafn and Trim Rock Quarry at Cilcain, both near Mold. A company spokesman said demand for building materials has taken a sharp downturn as work on many construction sites, from house building to commercial projects, has slowed or stopped this year.

He said: “What we are trying to do is to match production capacity now to what we predict demand will be over the next 12 to 18 months.”