Should you be leading this? Could the rock hold a serious fall on gear?

Yes and yes. It was described as, and graded for, leading in the previous Avon guide (pity it's not in the new one). The gear was spaced but mostly good, and the rock is fine for the most part. There's no reason these routes shouldn't be led with appropriate care.

I think I'll be visiting it in the next week. I'm partly concerned about it being a quarry, and maybe some types of protection would be better than others. Looks like there are plenty of options.

If this is a soft sandstone from what I reed on the crag profile, just a point of thought for everyone going to climb here. This may need the same ethics as southern sandstone i.e. only top roping. Will pay a visit myself soon.

Maybe worth heeding someone who has actually been rather than someone who hasn't, eh?

IT ISNT SANDSTONE! I have two A-level Geologists and their teacher agreeing that it is actually Ham Stone, a type of Limesone. That said it does look like and act like a consolidated sandstone.

Placing gear is specifically prohibited under the access agreement and the rock is NOT robust enough to withstand a leader-fall on gear.

Yeah I'll travel back in time and tell my 2002 version that, I'm sure he will give a massive fcuk. Or not.