I welcome today's news that the statutory nuisance abatement notice, served by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council on Walley’s Quarry landfill for odour nuisance in the town, will stand.
The Council and the operator of the landfill, Walley’s Quarry Limited, have come to an agreement that the abatement notice will remain in place. It had previously been appealed by the operator. However, following a mediation process the operator withdrew their appeal.
Walley’s Quarry Limited have acknowledged that their site has been the source of community complaint. The agreement also legally requires the operator to use best practical means to stop causing odour problems for local people.
In addition, the Council have been able to agree with Walley’s Quarry Limited a range of measures, such as improved access to information about activities on the site, which should be of real benefit to residents.
I am pleased that an agreement has been reached, the operator has withdrawn their appeal and the abatement notice is in place. This is a win not only for the Council but for the whole of the community affected by the odour from Walley’s Quarry.
The Council should not have had to go through this process. Better regulation from the Environment Agency should have prevented this blight from ever occurring. The Council have fought hard for Newcastle residents and put the EA to shame. The EA now need to urgently step up as the only body with the powers to make sure the problem is dealt with properly and the operator are properly punished for the repeated breaches of their permit. We need to see the two EA investigations – regulatory and criminal – given the utmost priority and brought to conclusions as soon as possible.
By withdrawing their appeal, the operator have finally conceded that their site has been responsible for unacceptable odour, a fact that they have repeatedly denied in the past. Walley’s Quarry Ltd must now go further and apologise to the community for their failings, and set out how they intend to compensate affected residents for the very real damage that has been done to people’s health and quality of life.
As the MP for Newcastle, I will continue to press for the operator to be held to account to the fullest extent of the law, and for the EA to answer for the inadequacies of their regulation to date. I will always work tirelessly to ensure my constituents get justice and can live stink free.