Following the judicial review findings, the EA have now published their plan, as required by Mr Justice Fordham.
In the document, the EA assesses the impact of the measures it has already required Walley's Quarry Limited to implement, and sets out the next steps WQL must take to continue to achieve the reduction in ambient hydrogen sulphide levels based on the recommendations of the UK Health & Security Agency.
The additional measures specified in the press release are:
🔸 Further operational measures to contain, capture and destroy the hydrogen sulphide.
🔸 Measures for Walleys Quarry Ltd to improve analysis and modelling of the hydrogen sulphide on site and how it is impacted by changes in atmosphere. This will help make sure the gas management system is effective in destroying hydrogen sulphide in the short and long term.
🔸 Continuation of measures to assure what comes onto the site ensuring new gypsum bearing materials are not included.
Clare Dinnis, Environment Agency Area Director said:
“This is a horrible situation for the local community and we do not underestimate how difficult it is to live with the hydrogen sulphide being released from Walleys Quarry.
“We can see that the measures we’ve required Walleys Quarry Ltd to take are working, with monitoring showing falling levels of hydrogen sulphide escaping from the site. Whilst this is good news, there is more work to be done to reduce these levels further and keep them low in the long term. That is why our highest priority is requiring the operator, Walleys Quarry Ltd, to take further action.
“We are committed to tackling the problems at Walleys Quarry to improve the situation, with the timescales in the judgment firmly in mind.”
As your MP, I will of course continue to hold both the operator and the Environment Agency to account, to ensure that we do indeed stop the stink.
I have a question on the order paper for Health Questions next Tuesday and will continue to press all relevant Ministers at Westminster, as well as bringing the new Waste Minister up to Newcastle to see and smell the situation for herself.
The full plan can be read at: https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/…/walleys-quarry-…
The EA's press release can be read at: https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/…/walleys-quarry-…