A sand and gravel quarry near Chichester is likely to stay open for another ten years before the land is returned to agriculture and forestry.

The decision was recommended despite complaints from the Council for the Protection of Rural England.

It says the extension for Valdoe Quarry in Westhampnett, near Bognor, will mean heavy lorries clogging roads near the site for another decade.

Planning permission for the quarry expired at the end of December, but the site operators estimate reserves to last ten years.

Now, West Sussex Planning Committee is being recommended to allow the site to stay open until December 2009.

Operators Dudman Aggregates could be given permission to import waste material, such as soil and hardcore, so the site can be prepared for when the operation ends and has to be restored.

County Hall planning officers said the scheme could be approved, subject to an agreement with the company over the routes, which 100 lorries a day will use when travelling to and from the site.

A report said: "The CPRE considers the proposed extension unreasonably excessive in view of the detrimental environmental and social impacts, which would be continued in this area. The period should be reduced in the interests of local amenity."

The CPRE also doubts whether the land will be returned to agriculture and said the pressure now was for development land, not farm fields.

But councillors, meeting on October 3, will be recommended to back the scheme, subject to the lorry-route agreement and other conditions, which include restoring the site within two years of work coming to an end.

Planning experts said the proposals offered a better restoration than originally expected.