TREES forming a natural ‘green buffer’ between residents of a Kingsteignton and a massive mineral quarry have been given official protection.

But campaigners fighting to save them have been warned that they are still at risk.

Devon County Council gave multinational mining giant Sibelco permission to extract ball clay at Kingsteignton back in 1999, and that permission still exists.

The Tree Preservation Order (TPO) now placed on the woodland by Teignbridge Council’s planning committee means any tree removal must be justified, proportionate and in line with wider planning and environmental objectives.

It aims to ‘prevent avoidable or premature woodland clearance that would result in a significant and irreversible loss of public amenity’. The woodland in question is the size of 60 football pitches.

However, Cllr Phil Bullivant (Con, Bradley) reminded planning committee members: “National legislation means this will eventually go back to being a quarry. That consent has already been given.

“We are proposing appropriate steps to provide as much protection as possible, but people think this is the first step towards stopping the redevelopment of the quarry, and I don’t believe we have the power to do that.”

Sibelco is one of the biggest employers in the Newton Abbot area, and the Zitherixon quarry at Rackerhayes holds one of the world’s most important deposits of ball clay, which is used in the manufacture of toilets, basins and tiles.

Clay mining contributes millions every year to the economy of the Newton Abbot area, but campaigners in Kingsteignton say removing the trees and returning Zitherixon to mining use is unacceptable.

Along with the loss of the huge woodland, they say quarry workings will create hazards for the local community including heavy traffic and dust.

The woodland has self-seeded since the quarry was last used more than 130 years ago and features tree species including ash, beech, sycamore, birch, hazel and oak.

Teignbridge received 170 messages of support for the TPO and just two objections – one from Sibelco and one from a local fishing club which uses the old quarries and says a TPO will prevent it from maintaining trees for safety purposes.

The local Save Our Trees group says the woodland is ‘priceless’ and must be preserved.

The planning committee meeting heard that the TPO will not prevent lawful mineral extraction or emergency safety works.

Cllr David Palethorpe (Lib Dem, Ipplepen) said: “We are extremely fortunate to have such a self-seeded woodland. To see nature take its own course over a century is something we should preserve.

“It is important that we do this for the people of Kingsteignton, Newton Abbot and the wider district.”

And Cllr Janet Bradford (Ind, College) added: “We really must protect this for the community.”

Members voted unanimously that a temporary TPO which was brought in last August and had been due to expire next month should be continued.