EXCLUSIVE: Staffordshire mum vows to fight for clean air at Supreme Court
It's as the legal battle over Walleys Quarry continues
Last updated 19th Jan 2022
The mother of a 5-year-old boy from Staffordshire says she's ready to take the fight against life-threatening pollution to The Supreme Court to protect her sons life.
We've been exclusively speaking to Rebecca Currie - mum to Mathew Richards, whose health is seriously impacted by noxious landfill gases at Walleys Quarry in Silverdale.
It's after judges at the Court of Appeal allowed an appeal by the Environment Agency against the original High Court order.
5-year-old Mathew, who lives close to the landfill site, was born with a chronic lung disease.
Lawyers representing the boy said the hydrogen sulphide emissions had worsened his underlying health issues, after a doctor confirmed the fumes were reducing his life span.
The High Court had made a declaration requiring the EA to take steps to reduce pollution from the Walleys Quarry Landfill Site in Staffordshire to the safe levels recommended by Public Heath England (now UKHSA).
They set a deadline of the end of this month
The Court of Appeal though allowed the Environment Agency’s appeal in this case last month, which removed that deadline.
In their written reasoning - they say the High Court was wrong to set a date.
Dr Mick Salt, #StopTheStink campaigner and advisor to the case said: "I’d just like to add that the direct effects of hydrogen sulphide on Mathew’s health, life-expectancy and family life was undisputed by The Environment Agency and was also upheld by this higher court."
Rebecca's now vowed to take it to The Supreme Court and says they will be ready to present their case
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said:
“Whilst we welcome the reasoned Judgment and the clarity it provides on the role of the Court in judicial review cases, we remain determined to tackle the problems at Walleys Quarry, as we have been all along.
“We will continue our work with the operator, the local authorities and all the other responsible bodies to bring emissions of hydrogen sulphide under control and ensure they remain so.”