Walley's Quarry: Complaints increasing at smelly landfill

Complaints reached over 100 in one week in October

Complaints have been increasing around the site of an under-fire landfill, councillors have heard.

Walley's Quarry, in north Staffordshire has been the subject of thousands of complaints and protests over the smell.

For the first time since the end of June complaints to the Environment Agency have passed over 100 in a one-week period.

Members of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council agreed to monitor the situation.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said complaints to the Environment Agency (EA) have increased every week in October, having reached 115 compared to the week ending 29 October.

EA data on hydrogen sulphide showed across the monitoring stations, levels were above the World Health Organisation annoyance threshold of 9% at the time.

Residents have staged numerous protests over the landfill site

Up to 400,000 tonnes of waste is dumped annually in Walley's Quarry and when it breaks down, it can produce hydrogen sulphide - a gas which smells like rotten eggs.

People in Silverdale have long demanded more stringent action and in September, Walleys Quarry Ltd (WQL) was ordered to improve the capping of waste at the site.

Commenting on a cabinet report, councillor Andy Fear, said it was "concerning".

Mr Fear said he hoped the rise would be stopped, otherwise there could be "dark clouds on the horizon" for people living around the site.

Council leader, Simon Tagg, told cabinet members: "I think we need to watch it over the next weeks and months as we go through the winter for any further deterioration."