A number of blasting exercises will take place at Penlee Quarry at Newlyn during the coming summer. MDL Developments Ltd, the company currently carrying out geological and environment surveys at the redundant quarry, have arranged the blasting.

The company is working on behalf of a private developer who wants to turn the quarry into a marina with housing, hotels and other tourist facilities.

Phil Dunn, of MDL, said that the blasts would be 'low key' and were being carried out so that the company could examine the structure, size and type of rock and gravel at the quarry.

"We are currently liaising with wildlife officers as we aware that there are Peregrine Falcons that nest in the quarry and other wildlife there that we don't want to harm in any way," said Mr Dunn.

"We will be carrying out a number of low key blasts to see what sort of rock is there in preparation for possible slopes or terracing being developed in a future project.

"We also need to know what sort of material can be taken away to be re-used in regeneration projects at Newlyn and Penzance harbours."

He said that the company would be contacting the residents of near-by Roskilly Cottages to inform them when the blasts will take place.

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Les Rowe, who lives in one of the cottages, said that the company had already set up dust monitors in the quarry and that residents were concerned about the impact of the proposed blasts on the wildlife and geology of the area.

"This is a very special area and must be protected from harm," he said.

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