I am glad to see the Environment Agency have taken this long-overdue step, and have publicised their action accordingly.
I continue to believe that their history of non-compliance, as evidenced by the breaches reported and their CCS score, is more than sufficient for the permit to be suspended. I appreciate the EA cannot, for legal reasons, comment further at this time about the outcome or potential penalties involved.
This legal restriction applies both to this investigation and the parallel criminal investigation, but I will be pressing for both investigations to be prioritised so that we can have a resolution as soon as possible.
I will also be writing to the new Environment Secretary later today, as soon as they are appointed by Liz Truss, both to stress the importance of a full and proper resolution at the site, but also of full accountability for those responsible for the appalling living conditions we in Newcastle have had to endure.