Controversial plans to dump millions of tonnes of rubbish at a Denholme quarry have been thrown out following concerns about safety, the loss of nesting for rare birds of prey and the need for a large-scale landfill site.

Campaigners against re-opening Buck Park in Whalley Lane, for quarrying, were told yesterday that a government inspector dismissed an appeal by the quarry owners, following a public inquiry.

Elizabeth Ord, an inspector appointed by the secretary of state, had been asked to rule on whether to allow owners P Casey to dig 1.04million tonnes of crushed rock and sandstone and replace it with household waste, after Bradford Council threw out the plans two years ago.

The quarrying company, which has faced fierce opposition from residents, wanted to replace the rock with 2.5 million tonnes of household waste.

However, in a decision report published yesterday, the inspector said there was “no need” for a landfill site in the Bradford district, particularly in such a “sensitive location” as Buck Park.

More recycling plants in Bradford and West Yorkshire are expected to cut “substantially” the need for landfill and there are enough sites in the region to handle rubbish from Bradford district for more than 13 years, according to the report.

Graham Kershaw, chairman of campaigners from Denholme Residents Action Group (Drag), said: “It is fantastic. We are very, very pleased after the hours that have gone into this.”

A nesting site for a pair of rare peregrine falcons on the quarry rock face would be lost if the quarry had been allowed to re-open at the site, the public inquiry heard in January.

The quarry owners had said that it would create bird boxes and perches for the falcons and a pair of nesting ravens discovered in the quarry.

However, the inspector said: “None of these would compensate for the lower cliff height, lesser perceived security and reduced wilderness that the proposal would represent.”

Campaigners also raised fears over safety on the A629, through Denholme, which has seen two deaths among 63 road accidents since 2006.

The inspector said: “A significant increase in HGVs using this road is likely to exacerbate the situation. There is a school in the village and children as well as other vulnerable pedestrians are likely to use the narrow footpaths along this stretch. This adds to my concerns.”

Nobody was available for comment from P Casey when contacted by the Telegraph & Argus yesterday.

e-mail: marc.meneaud@telegraphandargus.co.uk