Emotions were running high at a special convened full council meeting to debate Walleys Quarry. Members of the public filled the public seating area at Newcastle Borough Council to hear what councillors wanted to do over the site.

Councillors were summoned to the meeting following a motion put forward by the Labour Group on the council which primarily called for two judicial reviews regarding the lack of action by both the Environment Agency and the government in protecting the residents of Newcastle.

However the Conservative Group sought to amend the motion to focus the council's effort on the abatement notice process and seek further legal advice to assess whether a judicial review and other legal routes would secure an end to community suffering. 

Nearly all councillors raised their hands to speak during the nearly two and a half hour meeting with many raising concerns over reporting fatigue, delay tactics and the health impacts of hydrogen sulphide.

Councillors raised concerns over reporting fatigue, delay tactics and the health impacts of hydrogen sulphide (LDRS).

However following interruptions by the packed public gallery Mayor Simon White banged his gavel and told members of the public "I'll ask you one more time, you either leave or you keep your mouth closed." Following chanting of 'Stop the Stink, Stop the Stink' later on in the meeting members of the public were asked to leave the meeting.

Labour group leader, Dave Jones called the Conservative proposals a disgrace and said all it does is more of the same when what people want is definitive action. 

He told fellow councillors: "This motion will do nothing other than more of the same, it's a decision to let cabinet carry on receiving reports, writing letters and get nothing done. So whilst I am forced to vote for this motion today, it's heavy heart that a very clear motion, that would have had decisive action was hijacked by the administration; I think because they can't afford to stump up the one million pounds or perhaps for political reasons but it has completely, completely undermined any direct action we could have had.

Council Leader Simon Tagg said he was proud of the Conservative amendment and confirmed that plans are being worked on if the site is abandoned. He said: "I am really pleased to move this.

"I hope everybody supports it because it does bring about that stated aim of calling for a closure and also it allows us to look at that judicial review but i think the other thing it allows is to do which the Labour motion wouldn't it to continue to pursue that abatement notice as we are doing."

After being asked to leave the meeting Lauren Currie said: "I thought it was interesting, I didn't agree with the views of Simon Tagg. I didn't think the amendment they put forward, they're claiming they are stronger, they are not stronger.

A petition calling for the closure of Walleys Quarry has hit over 2,500 signatures in just 48 hours (Google).

"I am really disappointed with how it ended, a lot of what they wanted they were agreeing on but I think it was a couple of things they couldn't agree on the judicial review being one. I think many residents agree that it's being drawn out and feel that the council are drawing things out and just prolonging the situation for us."

One campaigner said: "All people want is for the situation to end and all we've seen in there is councillors arguing with themselves. What good is that for us."

Resident Paul Riley added: "Are they doing enough? Where's the banner on the front of this building. They keep saying we need to do something about this. Where is the targeted campaign with all the different aspects of a campaign you need to make it work in action.

"The most frustrating part for me was listening to Tory councillors saying the only thing we can do is a public inquiry. They're not conscious, they don't understand and they can't because it's their ideology, they can't understand that their party and their ideology of stripping away all the powers, stripping away all the money from these organisations is probably what's behind all of this."

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