A BRATTON couple are urging groups and residents who visit the White Horse to oppose Lafarge Cement's plans to extend its nearby quarry.

Richard and Rosemarie Gale are tenants of an MoD farm, which would be eaten up by the enlarged quarry, and fear the plan will damage the local environment.

The couple say users ranging from hang gliders to dog walkers benefit from the White Horse and the extended chalk quarry would be an eyesore for them.

They are urging people to join them in objecting to the plan by writing to Wiltshire County Council which will decide whether the application gets the go ahead.

Mrs Gale said: "Single voices can't do much, but if people can group together it would have a big impact."

In a letter to the Wiltshire Times the couple said: "A boundary change brought towards the White Horse seems dangerous and to the detriment of the general public's use.

"Landscaping takes many years to camouflage the quarry enlargement."

But Lafarge bosses maintain the extension is vital for the cement works' long term prospects and will not reduce access to the landmark.

Westbury works manager Real Simard said: "The great thing about our chalk quarry is that although it is close to the public open spaces next to the White Horse, few people know it is there.

"It is our goal to keep it that way in the future and we have developed the quarry plans to achieve this."

The quarry plans will be on show at the Lafarge Social Club from 4pm to 8pm on Thursday and 10am to 1pm next Saturday.