Walleys Quarry: Top public health boss raises concerns over health issues
Dr Richard Harling spoke to us after the first of two public hearings
Last updated 24th Jul 2024
The man in charge of public health in Staffordshire says fumes around a Newcastle landfill must be dealt with immediately in order to protect peoples health.
The first of two public inquiry hearings about Walleys Quarry took place last night.
Residents, councillors, the former Newcastle MP and GPs were among many who over a period of several hours voiced their concerns to a committee at Castle House.
Staffordshire's Director of Health and Care, Dr Richard Harling also presented his assessment of how the current situation is affecting public health, including the risk noxious gases pose to short and long-term health.
Speaking to our Chief Reporter Adam Smith at the conclusion of the hearing, he said:
"We are concerned about the health of people living in the Walleys Quarry area. There are the obvious health effects that we can see, that people experience every day, but there's also the concern about much longer term health effects that might emerge over the next few years and decades. We remain keen for a solution to this situation that safeguards the local community and gives people the security to live in their homes unperturbed by hydrogen sulphide gas and noxious smells.
"There is certainly a possibility of long-term health effects arising from Walleys Quarry. What's very difficult to predict is the scale of that. It could be relatively small or it may be much more significant. We just don't know and what we would like is a solution to this situation now so that we don't have to find out."
This sort of situation is unprecedented in the UK and that makes it an extraordinary situation and extraordinary situations need extraordinary solutions - Dr Harling
Dr Harling continued: "It's not clear that the existing regulatory regime allows the kind of action that's required to bring a urgent and decisive solution to this problem.
"We'll continue to make the case to government and highlight our concerns about health and ask that they take the situation seriously and do exactly that, and come to some sort of urgent and decisive solution as soon as they can. We've got the opportunity of a new government, so we will continue to lobby them and see what they can do."
Our Chief Reporter Adam Smith asked Dr Harling if he still views the situation as a public health emergency.
Dr Harling replied: "I think the difficulty is that we don't have clear evidence right now today of large numbers of people suffering very serious health problems. I think if we had that it might be easier to make the case. What we do have is lots of people suffering short term health problems, that we can see, and a growing concern about the risk of longer term health problems that will emerge over the years.
"We are keen prevent that so that the local community doesn't find itself in several years time with a huge burden of disease and we all get an opportunity to regret not taking action sooner."
The landfill operator says it remains committed to their end goal and to working constructively with all partners including councils and the Environment Agency. A spokesperson from Walleys Quarry Ltd said: “We are committed to continuing our progress; working with our neighbours to provide a clean, healthy and sustainable operation for our community. In time Walleys Quarry Ltd. will cease to operate as a landfill and restoration will be completed.”
The Environment Agency says it continues to robustly regulate Walleys Quarry Ltd and remains committed to long-term improvements in emissions. A spokesperson said: “We have every sympathy with the local community and we continue to carry out announced and unannounced site inspections. If we identify permit non-compliances, we inform Walleys Quarry Ltd and require the company to take remedial action.”
What is hydrogen sulphide?
Landfill gases contain hydrogen sulphide. It’s a colourless, flammable gas which has a distinct odour of rotten eggs. It is considered toxic.
Risk to health
The UK Health Security Agency says it’s aware that some people are experiencing short-term health effects associated with emissions from Walleys Quarry and that the risk of long-term health problems is likely to be small but cannot be excluded.
It states that symptoms like headaches, nausea, watery eyes, stuffy nose, coughs, and stress are more likely when the odours exceed the WHO annoyance level.
Additional mental health support has also been made available to help people experiencing emotional distress.
Jennie Collier, Managing Director at the Midlands Partner Foundation NHS Trust said: “People living in the area around Walleys Quarry who contact the Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Wellbeing Service are reporting the odour from the site is having a detrimental impact on their mental health. This has manifested itself as depression, anxiety, stress, sleep disorders and other issues.”
You can access this dedicated mental health support by calling 0300 303 0923 or visiting www.staffsandstokewellbeing.nhs.uk. Alternatively you can text SHOUT to 85258, speak to Samaritans on 116123 or calls North Staffs Mind on 01782 262100.