A local authority will not change its stance over proposals to extend a ragstone quarry into an area of ancient woodland, its cabinet has decided.

Earlier this year, Maidstone council made a submission to a Kent County Council minerals and waste consultation which some say indicated support for Gallagher Ltd’s proposal to massively extend its ragstone quarry off Hermitage Lane in Barming.

At the start of December, at an extraordinary meeting of the full council, members voted by a majority of 28 votes to 21 to urge the cabinet to reconsider that submission and replace it with one making it clear Maidstone was opposed to any further loss of the ancient woodland at the site known as Oaken Wood.

But just four members of the cabinet, at a meeting just before Christmas, have decided to ignore the motion and to take no further immediate action.

Deputy leader Paul Cooper (Con), who was chairing the meeting in the absence of council leader David Burton, admitted “the original letter [to KCC] didn't go far enough,” but he added that a revised submission had been made setting out some of the concerns surrounding the proposal.

Visiting member Cllr Clive English (Lib Dem) said the council’s response had been “inadequate” because although it had referred to noise and highways issues, it had not considered the biodiversity loss.

Cllr Stuart Jeffery (Green) said that the quarry extension would result in a greater loss of ancient woodland than the HS2 and Lower Thames Crossing projects combined and pointed out the irony of the council apparently supporting such a move just a few years after having itself declared a biodiversity emergency in the borough.

But cabinet member Cllr Claudine Russell (Con) said the council would get a second chance to respond when KCC puts its waste and minerals plan out to a second stage consultation, which might be as early as January or February.

She refuted the allegation that the council’s original response had been supportive of the quarry scheme, saying it had raised some concerns.

She proposed the cabinet “vote against the [full council’s] motion”.

She was seconded by Cllr Patrik Garten (Con) who said: “It was barely worth it to reconsider the submission.” He added: “The train has passed the station.”

Two cabinet members – Cllrs Burton and John Perry – were absent from the meeting.

The remaining cabinet members – Cllrs Paul Cooper, Patrik Garten, Claudine Russell and Lottie Parfitt-Reid – voted unanimously to take no further action.

Their decision was afterwards roundly condemned by opposition party leaders.

Cllr Maureen Cleator (Lab) said: “It is extremely disappointing that the cabinet has ignored the democratic vote of full council and also defied national policy.

“Oaken Wood, once destroyed, cannot be replaced. It is well-used and well-loved by the public.

“As a council, we should be protecting ancient woodland not being party to destroying it.”

Cllr Paul Harper (Fant and Oakwood Independents) added: "Once ancient woodland is cut up it’s gone forever.

“Oaken Wood is well used by local people to walk in a natural landscape. It has not been disfigured for centuries.

“It will be a crime against us all if it's now cut down for aggregate."

Cllr Stuart Jeffery (Green) said: “The council spoke clearly, but the cabinet still won’t listen.

“While the cabinet is there to make decisions it cannot be allowed to override such a strong message from the majority of councillors. There is a biodiversity crisis and this council needs to do all it can to stop that crisis.“

Cllr Clive English (Lib Dem) said: “It was depressing to see that not only did the cabinet ignore the views of the majority of the council, but they also continue not to be concerned about the devastating impact this proposal would have on the borough’s environment.

“As an opposition, we would like to make this clear, the expansion of further quarrying into Oaken Wood is unacceptable.”

Backbencher Cllr Richard Conyard (Lib Dem) said: “I am angry – as many others will be.

“The cabinet has ridden roughshod over the views of the majority of councillors and residents.”

Gallagher, the firm behind the quarry extension, says any environmental harm will be kept to a minimum. Although the trees of the ancient woodland would be felled, the topsoil would be carefully removed and preserved, and after the quarry has been dug and then the void refilled with inert material, the topsoil would be replaced and new trees planted.

KCC has received more than 30,000 objections to the quarry expansion.