Councillors have backed a new scathing report into the failures of both Walleys Quarry Limited and the Environment Agency in protecting the public from both known and unknown health impacts.

The council additionally reiterated their call for a public inquiry into the ongoing situation, which residents have been dealing with for years.

The report was produced by a special committee of inquiry who met privately five times in advance of public hearings which were carried out over the summer. The inquiry heard from a number of local residents, community groups and expert groups including the United Kingdom Health Security Agency and the Environment Agency.

The committee heard that since 2019 there have been 109 breaches, that lorries attempting to access the site have been arriving at 3am and that the health risks are greater than research would suggest. Speaking at the full council meeting, inquiry chairman, Councillor Robert Bettley-Smith said the saga is "pure post office" and the Environment Agency is not fit for purpose."

He said: "The Committee thanks all those who have participated in the process. The Committee is deeply concerned about the continuing significant impact of Walleys Quarry on the local community and understands and appreciates the effect that the site has had on individuals and their families. The Committee hopes that this report and its recommendations will help inform a satisfactory and timely conclusion.

"The conclusions are that Walley's Quarry Ltd and the Environment Agency have failed the public in many respects and evidence has been supplied to indicate short term known and possible long term unknown health impacts to the local population which appears to have been contributed to by the lack of action by the aforementioned bodies."

The council reiterated their call for a public inquiry into the ongoing situation (LDRS).

The report lists several failures by the agency responsible for managing the site, including 109 breaches in the regulatory framework since 2019, calibration errors of monitoring equipment, allowing poor site performance and allowing the increase in the permitted tonnage.

Dave Jones, the vice chairman of the inquiry told councillors: " First and foremost it's our duty as representatives of the people to ensure their voices are heard, their concerns are addressed and their wellbeing is protected. Well this committee did that.

"Let's be clear the toxic odours from Walleys Quarry have had and continue to have a detrimental impact on human health. The impact of these toxic odours has been obtuse and pervasive."

Councillor Jones told the committee that the reports from residents about health impacts which include the use of sleeping tablets to try and sleep through the odours at night. He also said that residents have attempted or considered taking their own life as a result of the smells coming from the quarry and the impact it is having on families and relationships.

Councillors at Newcastle Borough Council unanimously approved all 11 of the recommendations in the report, which include redouble the pressure on the Environment Agency to issue a closure notice; support the current legal action the council is pursuing and investigate the cost of the restoration of the site.

A spokesperson for Walleys Quarry said: "The Landfill site holds an environmental permit and is stringently regulated by the Environment Agency to ensure the onsite activities do not cause harm to human health or the environment as we play a vital role in offering residual waste disposal supporting wider recycling service. 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."

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "The Environment Agency has fully engaged in the inquiry leading up to the publication of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council's Inquiry Report. We will now consider the report in full and will respond accordingly.

"We have every sympathy with the local community and remain committed to maintaining long-term improvements in emissions from Walleys Quarry landfill. 

"We continue to require Walley's Quarry Ltd (WQL) to comply with its permit and to implement all the measures necessary to manage emissions of landfill gas from the site. We do this in accordance with the regulatory framework, keeping all regulatory options under review. 

"Whilst our work cannot be directed by anything other than this framework, we remain committed to working alongside partners to secure a long term, robust and sustainable resolution."

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