A 6,000-YEAR-OLD old site of national importance at the heart of a major quarry complex is set to be safeguarded and handed over to the public.

North Yorkshire County Council’s planning committee has agreed with the owners Tarmac to approve further quarrying, and in return the site of the Thornborough Henges and 90 acres of land around them will be preserved and handed over to the public body.

The henges are pre-historic man made structures, dating from about 4,000BC which extend for over a mile in three separate mounds, forming part of a larger site of six. English Heritage say it is the most important prehistoric site between Stonehenge and the Orkneys. Historians believe that the circular monuments were a place of worship.

The preservation agreement comes after years of protest over moves by Tarmac to extend the existing quarry near the henges. Nosterfield is one of the largest quarries in the region, providing more than 25 per cent of all the sand and gravel used on building sites across North Yorkshire.

The latest plan is to extract over 2.2m tonnes of gravel and sand, in an area about 850 metres from the nearest ancient monument. Tarmac also offered to provide public access connecting to a network of public rights of way. Quarrying is set to take between four and five years.

Chairman of planning Cllr Peter Sowray said: “I welcome the fact that Thornborough is sorted out once and for all. It has been very contentious for many many years. Now it will be open to the public and a great asset to the nation.”

Cllr David Blades added: “The Thornborough Henges are particularly sensitive, I think everybody has worked hard over this and with the agreement in perpetuity they are safe.”

Yorkshire Archaeological Society is still concerned the setting of the henges will be further affected, by continued quarrying. They say the planning conditions should reverse the effects of previous work which goes back to 1950.

Thornborough Heritage Trust said the application is a unique opportunity to put ownership and management in the hands of an appropriate body with the expertise to preserve and promote the henges.

Planning officer Vicky Perkins said there had been particularly detailed scrutiny of the development because of the high profile of the site.

“That reflects the significance applied to this important national asset. Suitably mitigated it is considered acceptable in planning terms,” she added.

Malcolm Ratcliffe for Tarmac said: “This quarry is vital to the North Yorkshire economy. We are well aware of the contentious history of this site. We have sought to mitigate the impacts of the open areas of water and loss of agricultural land, to promote understanding of the historic landscape and secure the future of the henges in perpetuity, while securing public access.

“The company has no doubt this site will be a treasured and valuable asset to the people of North Yorkshire.”