Council votes for Walleys Quarry closure as odour complaints rise

All on-site emissions "pose no risk to health", Walleys Quarry Ltd says

A council has voted to urge the Environment Agency to close a landfill site after an increase in "bad odours" complaints.

Complaints have risen steadily in three months, a Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council meeting, called to discuss "issues with Walleys Quarry", heard.

But the quarry's owner insists on-site emissions were well within World Health Organisation guidelines.

The agency (EA) stated it was keeping its regulatory options under review.

Councillors also voted for the authority to assess its legal options and backed a move to increase its "legal 'fighting fund' to £300,000", it said.

• MP launches petition to close stinky landfill

Last month, the council said it had received 203 complaints in December, "more than in both 2022 and 2021", about the site, which is currently scheduled to close in 2026 and be turned into green space.

This week, its meeting was told the odours caused by emissions of hydrogen sulphide had "risen steadily in the last three months" with 500 complaints in February so far, the council said.

Complaints about foul odours caused by emissions of hydrogen sulphide had risen steadily, a council meeting heard

Leader Simon Tagg confirmed the full council had backed cabinet's decision to call on the agency to issue a closure notice.

The ball was "very much" in the EA's court, he stated.

Walleys Quarry Ltd said it was disappointed by the council's "performative efforts to play party politics and make facile calls for closure, without giving any thought or effort towards the practical realities".

A spokesman stated: "In time, Walleys Quarry Ltd will cease to operate as a landfill and restoration will be completed.

"This cannot be achieved through any sort of immediate closure, as the council knows full well."

The firm said its appeal for local politicians to work with it productively "remains open" and the firm was still committed to working with regulators and "our community, as we strive to provide a clean, healthy and sustainable operation".

'Recent temporary increases'

All on-site emissions "pose no risk to health", it added.

The EA said it recognised there had been "recent temporary increases in hydrogen sulphide emissions around Walleys Quarry, and in odour reports from local residents".

A spokesperson said it had "every sympathy" with the community and remained committed to maintaining long-term improvements in emissions from the site.

"We continue to require Walleys Quarry Ltd (WQL) to comply with its environmental permit and implement all the measures necessary to manage emissions of landfill gas from the site," it said.

The spokesperson added it was keeping the company's response to the complaints under review.