Resolving the odour issues at Walleys Quarry

As a result of our investigations, we concluded that the odours associated with the landfill did amount to a statutory nuisance.

As a result, we served an abatement notice on Walleys Quarry Ltd (WQL) on 13 August 2021. The notice required WQL to 'abate' the nuisance within 5 months of the date of the notice and to prevent reoccurrence. WQL lodged an appeal against the notice on 2 September 2021. The appeal triggered two things:

• it “stopped the clock” on the 5 month timeframe for abatement

• it started a legal process leading to a trial in the magistrates court to decide whether or not the abatement notice was valid.

After hearing an appeal against an abatement notice the court has three options. It can:

• allow the appeal, finding that there is no statutory nuisance and “striking down” the abatement notice

• dismiss the appeal, finding that there is a statutory nuisance, upholding the abatement notice in its original form

• dismiss the appeal, finding that there is a statutory nuisance and upholding the abatement notice, but varying the terms of the abatement notice in some way, for example affording more time to comply