Protest held at stinking landfill site

A protest was held at Walleys Quarry over the unpleasant smells at the site

Protestors have gathered outside a controversial landfill as the saga around unpleasant smells emanating from the site rumbled on.

About 20 members of the Stop the Stink campaign group took part in a demonstration at Walleys Quarry in Silverdale, Staffordshire, on Friday.

It followed years of complaints from people living nearby, with more than 1,000 lodged with the Environment Agency (EA) and Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council in May alone.

Walleys Quarry said it recognised the impact the odours could have and that it was focused on managing the site to minimise the issue.

Lee-Bernadette Walford, admin of Stop the Stink, described the issue as “absolutely disgraceful” and said it was affecting thousands of residents.

“We’re just fighting all the time. Sometimes we feel like we’re getting there and then it’s one step forward and 10 steps back,” she told BBC Radio Stoke.

Lee-Bernadette Walford said the smell at the site was "absolutely disgraceful"

A spokesperson for Walleys Quarry said the landfill site held an environment permit and was “stringently regulated” by the EA.

“We recognise the impact that odours can have for local residents and the team is focused on managing the site to minimise impacts to the community around the site and we will continue to do so,” they said.

The protest followed a virtual public meeting held on Wednesday by the EA for people to voice their concerns.

It came after it was revealed that pollution detectors at Walleys Quarry had been underreporting levels of hydrogen sulphide, the chemical responsible for the unpleasant smells.

The EA apologised for the error and said it had updated the calibration procedures.