Concerns have been raised about potential disruption to residents because of plans to extend operations at an Easter Ross quarry.
Highland Council’s north planning committee has approved changes which will allow Tor Leathan quarry near Ardross in Ross-shire to continue to operate until 2042.
Operator Tarmac Lafarge will remove an estimated 100,000 tonnes annually from the site by road.
However Cromarty Firth councillors Maxine Smith and Mike Finlayson raised concerns about the impact of the heavy lorries on local roads and on residents of Ardross.
They proposed a motion calling for the start time to be put back to 7.30am rather than 7am because of “undue nuisance”, with a later finish of 7.30pm.
The site was first granted planning permission in 1975 and has never had weekday time constraints.
Ms Smith said: “I just can’t help thinking that it’s too long a day for the people who live nearby.
“A lot of people aren’t really ready to be wake up at that time of day, especially with these big lorries thundering past their houses.”
A report prepared by council planning officer David Mudie said that an estimated five lorries per hour would carry material from the site by road.
Mr Finlayson said he was concerned about the damage these lorries could cause to carriageways.
But others did not share his view.
Councillor Audrey Sinclair said: “I can understand the worries but these are good working hours which they are wanting to make use of.
“There’s a good economic case here.”
Mr Mudie told the committee that the council could be liable to pay compensation if they restrict the hours available to the company.
The councillors voted nine to four in favour of allowing the earlier starts.
Under the new conditions the quarry will be allowed to operate from 7am until 7pm on weekdays, and 7am until 1.30pm on Saturdays.