Politicians pledge action over stinky landfill

Labour MP Steve Reed (centre) attended a meeting with local residents

A Labour politician has pledged to get answers over a stinky landfill site if his party wins the next election.

Shadow environment secretary Steve Reed visited the Walleys Quarry landfill site in Newcastle-under-Lyme on Wednesday to meet local residents.

He said the government had done nothing about resolving the issue and that the Environment Agency (EA) had let people down.

Conservative minister Robbie Moore is expected to visit later this month.

Mr Reed said: “The fact that people living in Newcastle-under-Lyme have had to put up with that for years is shocking to me, really shocking.”

He added that he would “haul” the EA and the operator into his office if he was appointed environment secretary after the next general election.

He said: “I will demand answers as to why they are allowing this to continue for so long and I’ll want to know why they have still got a licence to operate despite what they are inflicting on people living in this town.”

Recent data has revealed odour complaints linked to the landfill have reached a 21-month high.

No public inquiry

However, Mr Reed ruled out a public inquiry into the site if Labour was in government.

“The thing with a public inquiry is that it can take years and years and years and we don’t want this to go on for years and years... I want to take action that will be quick,” he said.

A spokesperson for Walleys Quarry Ltd said they would welcome a meeting with Mr Reed to update him on their progress and open a constructive dialogue.

“We remain committed to working with our community, all political stakeholders and the regulator to alleviate concerns and provide a clean, healthy and sustainable operation for our community.”

Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Jo Gideon told the Commons that complaints were soaring

On Thursday, Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Jo Gideon raised the issue in parliament.

The Conservative confirmed that rural affairs minister Robbie Moore would visit later this month.

She said: "For the past four years, I've consistently raised the issues of Walleys Quarry, and although the site falls within my neighbour's constituency, its activities affect my constituents as well."

She added: "Working closely with Aaron Bell MP, I will continue to press for more answers until we stop the stink from blighting people’s lives further."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.