Walleys Quarry: Monitoring and inspections to continue after closure

The Environment Agency says it's keeping close tabs on a controversial Newcastle landfill to make sure it starts set work to drastically reduce foul smells.

On 28 November 2024 the regulator issued a Closure Notice to Walleys Quarry Limited (WQL) in Silverdale.

It follows what has been more than five years of community frustration and relentless campaigning over noxious fumes plaguing the town and surrounding area.

Walleys Quarry has been told that its management is poor and that further operation of the site may result in significant, long-term pollution. They must now start the process of winding up operations.

In practise it means the operator can no longer accept new waste and only lorries involved in capping off the rest of the site will be allowed in.

Our Chief Reporter Adam Smith put a number of questions to the Area Director at the Environment Agency, Ian Jones.

What are your plans and priorities for Walleys Quarry now?

"The requirements of the closure notice are sort of the key next steps." said Ian.

"The closure notice itself is bookended, as it were, with first and foremost, the prevention of further waste being deposited. And at the other end of the closure notice is the need to have developed, agreed and enacted a closure and aftercare plan.

"In between both of those, there's a series of actions that we'll be ensuring take place. They range from better containment and cover for the waste materials on site, certain engineering works as well to enable further gas infrastructure to be installed, along with the monitoring to demonstrate it's been effective, all of which will progressively improve the capping and containment and the management of landfill gas on site, reducing the risk of gasses escaping the facility, which is what's given rise to many of the concerns within a community."

The Environment Agency's website outlines that this Closure Notice requires WQL:

• to install temporary geomembrane capping to any area of the operational landfill that does not have capping.
• to install landfill gas extraction infrastructure in the areas identified in the Closure Notice.
• to only accept lorries that carry materials that will be used to cap the site as well as materials in relation to their soil treatment permit.
• to provide a Landfill Closure and Aftercare Plan - and to include an updated leachate management plan, gas management plan, and updated landfill gas management plans.

Does anything change in terms of the frequency of EA site visits or the air quality monitoring stations?

"There's no proposed changes to the monitoring regime that's in place with the mobile monitoring facilities that I know the community are very aware of, and in terms of our presence on site as as always, that's that's going to be on a risk basis, it will be informed by actions that need to be taken.

"I'm sure through this period, we'll need to meet and work with the operator to ensure that the actions are completed appropriately. Our teams will be working both on site and remotely to determine that that's happened."

What's being done about the recent surge in odour complaints and current emissions?

"The work that's being undertaken through the enforcement notice, it won't stop it overnight, but the works will progressively improve the capping and containment in the facility.

"It will expand the gas extraction, the infrastructure, which is what's used to take the gas from the landfill and then burn it to create energy and prevent it being an issue for odour. All of that work as it's coming online will reduce the risk of gas escaping the facility and affecting those that live in and around Newcastle."

The decision to issue the closure notice has been welcomed by local MPs and council leaders.

Alan White, Leader of Staffordshire County Council, said:

"Residents have been affected by the terrible odours from this site for too many years, while we have urged both the Government and the regulator to take effective action to resolve the problem permanently.

"The recently published Community Impact Study makes clear the depth of concern there is in the community about the long-term effects of emissions from this site.

"This move brings optimism to residents and, like them, we hope that this is the beginning of the end. We will be watching the situation closely."

Can the operator appeal?

Walleys Quarry Limited has the right to appeal our decision to issue a Closure Notice, which must be made within 2 months of the date the Closure Notice is issued. If there is an appeal, an Inspector appointed by the Planning Inspectorate will hear it and decide whether to quash or affirm the Notice.

A spokesperson for Walleys Quarry said: "We are clear that keeping the site open delivers greatest benefit and sustainability for the site.

"We will challenge this decision using all available options. Walleys Quarry have made extensive factual and legal submissions to the Environment Agency which in our view they have not substantively engaged with.

"As a business we completely reject the accusations made by the Environment Agency relating to poor management of the landfill site."

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