MP demands that all Walleys Quarry correspondence is made public
A top Labour MP has demanded that all the correspondence relating to Walleys Quarry between the Environment Agency, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and the operator be made public.
This follows the ending of the suspension notice that was issued at the start of the month.
In recent months a lot of activity has taken place around the site including visits from both the Shadow Environment Secretary, Steve Reed and Waste minister Robbie Moore. A petition was also started by local MP Aaron Bell which called for the closure of the site, which has been signed by more than 8000 people.
Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday (14 March) Steve Reed, Labour top environment spokesperson asked for correspondence to be published so residents can see why the site hasn't been closed down. He asked "Last month, I visited Newcastle-under-Lyme with local campaigner Adam Jogee to meet residents who are literally choking on toxic fumes from the Walleys Quarry landfill site.
"Over 10,000 residents have complained about the stench, and a five-year-old child ended up in hospital. Will the Secretary of State publish all correspondence between DEFRA, the Environment Agency and the operator, so that residents in Newcastle-under-Lyme can see why the site has not been closed down?"
In response, Steve Barclay, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs commented: "No one could have done more to highlight the issue than the constituency MP. Indeed, the Minister with responsibility for water has already been to Walleys Quarry to look at first hand.
"Having spoken directly to the chief executive of the Environment Agency, I know that everything that can be done within the law is being done. That is the assurance that the Minister and I have had from the chief executive of the Environment Agency. Indeed, enforcement action was taken recently at that specific site."
At the start of the month the Environment Agency issued a suspension notice at the site to the delight of campaigners. However just 12 days later the suspension notice was revoked after the Agency said it is 'satisfied' at actions taken to reduce gas emissions at the landfill site.
Recently the Environment Agency announced that the mobile monitoring facility which was removed from the Silverdale Pumping Station in January due to planned construction works but due to a delay the site will be reused as a monitoring site. Commenting on the news on X, formally Twitter, Council Leader Simon Tagg called the action the 'right thing to do' and that a minimum of three monitoring stations is 'crucial' for gathering evidence to issue a closure notice.
Adam Jogee, Labour's candidate for Newcastle-under-Lyme, said: "We're asking the Conservatives to publish the correspondence between DEFRA, Walley's Quarry and the Environment Agency. That would reassure my residents that the local MP and his Party have been doing everything within their power to stop the stink.
"The Environment Secretary has refused to do that. And I have to ask why?
"Residents of Newcastle-under-Lyme are tired of people 'highlighting' the issue, they want action. They want the law-makers of this country to shut down the site. So why hasn't that happened yet?"
A Walleys Quarry spokesperson said: "We of course reject Mr Reed's comments and the independent Environment Agency data will attest to the fact that the situation has improved significantly due to ongoing efforts made by Walleys Quarry Ltd.
"We would ask Mr Reed, as we do all politicians, to meet with us and visit the site. We want to work with stakeholders, our community and regulators to provide a clean, responsible and sustainable operation for Newcastle-under-Lyme. We hope Mr Reed will contribute to this process.
"We do however refute wholeheartedly the suggestion that WQL is in any way liable for any health concerns. All attempts to besmirch our reputation in this manner have ended in failure, rejected by various courts. All legal rulings continue to confirm that Walleys Quarry operates under the highest standards of regulation."
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