Inquiry backs calls for Walleys Quarry closure

The recommendation is the first of 11 made by a special scrutiny committee of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, which was established to hear the effect of the long-running issue on the community, question whether it could have been resolved previously and to ask what could be done to end the problem now.

Members heard more than 11 hours of evidence from the Environment Agency (EA), UK Health Security Agency, community groups and others, and considered numerous additional written statements.

Cllr Robert Bettley-Smith, chair of the cross-party scrutiny committee, thanked all those who gave evidence and said:

The message from the community was clear: living near Walleys Quarry dominates residents’ lives.
 

Whether it’s wondering day-to-day when the terrible smell will return, dealing with immediate health issues, or worrying about the possible consequence of long-term exposure to hydrogen sulphide, committee members were unanimous in agreeing that they want to see the closure, capping and restoration of the site to help residents return their lives to normal.”

Other recommendations made by the committee included:

• supporting the Borough Council’s preparation of legal action against the site operator;
• investigating whether the size of the restoration bond deposited by the operators would be sufficient if it was needed;
• taking samples of the core to understand the content;
• reiterating the Council’s call for a Government-led public inquiry into the EA’s role as a regulator and its handling of the site;
• implementing a uniform recording system at GP surgeries to better understand illnesses and conditions arising from exposure;
• independent monitoring of site emissions to restore public confidence in air quality data.

The report noted that EA officers were confident that they had the powers to take enforcement action and close the site if necessary. However, members noted more than 109 breaches of regulations since 2019 and questioned the EA’s decision to approve an increase in waste volumes before considering consultation replies or rising levels of gas emissions.

Members also expressed concern that, as Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) left the body quickly, it was very difficult to link exposure to health problems, and expressed concern that the result of long-term exposure to low levels of the gas were unknown.

Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, was one of those who gave evidence. Welcoming the report, which will be considered by Full Council on Wednesday, 25 September, Cllr Tagg said:

Despite its limited powers and resources, the Borough Council has been the body that shines a light on so many aspects of this terrible blight on residents’ lives.
 

The committee’s report covers many of the wider implications of the situation, from the potential effect on residents’ health to the clear inability of the Environment Agency to effectively manage the situation.

The question remains: if the EA believes that this site is operating correctly within its regulatory framework, why do problems persist?”

The report can be found here in full at #6.