Walleys Quarry: Council wants answers over recent rise in complaints

The operator of a controversial landfill in Newcastle is being asked to explain what's instigated a wave of recent complaints over odours and emissions.

It follows a similar call from the chair of the Walleys Quarry Strategic Coordinating Group last month which called on Walleys Quarry Ltd to "redouble" its efforts to control odours.

The leader of Newcastle Borough Council, Simon Tagg said: “The site is regulated by the Environment Agency, which has the power to suspend, restrict, issue closure notices and instruct work required. However, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has worked tirelessly, within the limits of its legal powers via an Abatement Notice, to improve and resolve this problem.

“Newcastle’s officers have engaged Walleys Quarry Ltd in regular, substantial discussions about consistent, effective site management. In the absence of a simple solution to the odour issues we believe that in the medium term this approach will produce the best, sustainable result for residents.

“Our officers are regularly visiting communities at all hours of day and night to monitor the situation, collate complaints and are challenging the operator to explain any incidents and to take corrective action.

“However, in recent weeks there has been a clear increase in emissions matched, quite understandably, by a rise in the number of complaints.

“The Council is working on behalf of the residents who have suffered as a result of these odours, holding WQL to account and challenging them to really get a sustained grip on the issue, with the prospect of legal action if the problem isn’t resolved.”

Hits Radio News has contacted the operator Walleys Quarry Ltd for a response.

What is the Abatement Notice?

In August 2021, Newcastle Borough Council served an Abatement Notice against Walleys Quarry Ltd, requiring it to control the smell nuisance caused by landfill operations.

After mediation an appeal against the Notice was dropped, putting the Abatement Notice in place and allowing the company five months to resolve the problem. That five-month period expired on 5th March, 2023.

The company agreed it must control odour problems by ‘the best practical means’ and to publicise information about what’s happening there.

The Council is now able to pursue a prosecution against Walleys Quarry Ltd if it considers the operator has failed to follow best practice and that the failure has affected the community.

Permission to bring a prosecution must be granted by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs because the site is regulated by the Environment Agency.

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