Neston villagers were left disappointed on Wednesday by Wiltshire Council’s decision to allow the reopening of a mine that has been unused for 50 years.

At the Strategic Planning Committee meeting, members approved the application by Neston resident Sir James Fuller and Somerset firm Ham and Doulting Stone Ltd to reopen Park Lane quarry to mine Bath stone.

Councillors held two votes, the first was tightly contested, five votes to four approving the construction of a new road and access area to the quarry which will be on Brookleaze near the Rough Street junction, at the east of the village.

The second vote was unchallenged and backed the application for mineral extraction to take place once more at the quarry, below Neston Park, on the estate where TV drama Lark Rise to Candleford was filmed.

Wiltshire and Corsham Town councillor, Peter Davis, said: “I’m disappointed by the first vote and the route the HGVs will take to get to the quarry.

“What we have to do now is to ensure the mine operates in the conditions agreed and that they consider the residents of Neston and Corsham.”

Conditions include only two HGV vehicles leaving and returning to the quarry each day and that work can only take place on weekdays between 7am and 5pm.

Neston residents had raised concerns about HGVs travelling through the village and the effect it would have on the local environment and safety, suggesting alternative routes for vehicles which were not considered at the meeting.

The application attracted about 60 complaints from residents with most concerned about the route the lorries would take to the quarry. They suggested that access could be created to the south of the site joining with Atworth Lane, quickly reaching the A365 and avoiding the majority of the properties in Neston and surrounding villages.

Neston resident and Corsham town councillor Anne Lock said: “James Fuller has ruled throughout that lorries couldn’t go the way that we’ve suggested and the strategic planning authority seem unable to exert their power and say this is unacceptable. They have ignored the people who live in Neston.”

Sir James Fuller did not comment at the meeting but Ham and Doulting’s agent John Salmon said: “We are satisfied with today’s result and we intended to be neighbourly to the people of Neston.”