This is now live at the link provided (under Update 2 March).
The fact that the enforcement agency for environmental incidents have no first-hand evidence of what happened at the weekend is a truly ridiculous situation. I have made my extreme concern at this known both to the EA and to the Minister.
The EA only became aware that the electricity supply at the Mobile Monitoring Facility was not working on Monday morning.
They have also explained that did not send an officer to conduct an odour tour at the weekend because (a) they were worried about staff safety, after an NBC officer had to call the police after being threatened; and (b) they believed the mobile monitoring facility was working.
The EA have further confirmed that they did not ask Staffordshire Police whether they could send a police officer to accompany someone from the EA, given their concerns.
In my view, and given the events described above, the EA now have a huge amount of work to do to regain the trust of the local community. They accept that they need to be much more proactive in their communications, and have specifically apologised for the lack of communication prior to this drilling.
I will provide further updates as and when I have any.
https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/…/walleys-quarry…/
