Council calls for Walleys Quarry closure in Newcastle
Members of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council have voted to urge the Environment Agency to close Walleys Quarry.
Members of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council have voted to urge the Environment Agency to close Walleys Quarry.
Describing the odours as a ‘significant public health emergency’, councillors also voted for the Borough Council to assess its legal options.
They have also backed a move to increase the authority’s legal ‘fighting fund’ to £300,000.
Councillors at a special meeting last night called to discuss the continuing issues with Walleys Quarry, heard that complaints about foul odours caused by emissions of hydrogen sulphide had risen steadily in the last three months – with 500 complaints in February so far.
Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Borough Council, said: “The community is appalled that after so long this blight on our lives is still here.
“The EA is the principal regulatory body for Walleys Quarry with the power to suspend operations, restrict what’s done, or require work be carried out and it should consider using its ‘Closure Notice’ powers.
“Months, indeed years, of EA site inspections have brought to us to where we are now and Full Council has now backed Cabinet’s decision to call on the EA to issue a closure notice for this site and the ball is very much in its court: our community wants to know what we’re waiting for.”
In response, Walleys Quarry Ltd have said, "Walleys Quarry Ltd remains committed to working with the regulators and our community as we strive to provide a clean, healthy and sustainable operation for Newcastle-under-Lyme.
“WQL is disappointed by the Council’s performative efforts to play party politics and make facile calls for closure without giving any thought or effort towards the practical realities.
“We remain committed to our end goal. In time Walleys Quarry Ltd. will cease to operate as a landfill and restoration will be completed. This cannot be achieved through any sort of immediate closure, as the council knows full well.
"As we work to achieve our objectives, all onsite emissions continue to remain well within World Health Organisation guidelines and pose no risk to health.
"As always our standing appeal for local politicians to work with us productively remains open.”