A suspension notice imposed on Walleys Quarry following an 'unacceptable' rise in gas emissions has been lifted after less than two weeks.

The Environment Agency issued the notice on the Silverdale landfill site on March 1, which barred it from accepting deliveries of non-inert waste and required the operator carry out certain actions to reduce the emissions by March 24.

This followed a sharp rise in hydrogen sulphide levels in the areas around the landfill in recent months, with complaints from residents hitting a two-year high. But yesterday (Tuesday), the agency announced that Walleys Quarry had complied with the notice and so it would now be lifted, allowing the landfill to accept non-inert waste once again.

Operator Walleys Quarry Limited (WQL) had appealed against the suspension notice to the Planning Inspectorate. Campaigners and politicians said they were shocked at the decision to withdraw the notice so soon.

The notice required WQL to install additional gas extraction infrastructure and carry out temporary capping in two areas of the site. EA officials say they would now assess the effectiveness of the steps taken.

Campaigners and politicians said they were shocked at the decicion to withdraw the notice so soon (Google).

In a statement, the EA said: "We are satisfied that the steps required have been completed and have therefore withdrawn the Notice. This means that WQL is no longer prohibited from accepting and disposing of non-inert waste specified in its permit.

"The Environment Agency will now carefully assess the effectiveness of the action taken to reduce fugitive emissions of landfill gas from the areas of the site identified in the Notice. We will continue to require WQL to comply with its environmental permit and implement all the measures necessary to manage emissions of landfill gas from the site. All regulatory options remain under consideration."

Simon Tagg, leader of Newcastle Borough Council, expressed his disbelief at the decision on X. He tweeted: "Environment Agency claim they are 'satisfied' steps required have been taken. But will now 'carefully assess' if it's worked to reduce the noxious odours. Unbelievable! Close it down, cap it off."

Simon Tagg, leader of Newcastle Borough Council, said 'Close it down, cap it off' (Image supplied).

Newcastle MP Aaron Bell said the decision would come as a 'huge disappointment' to residents, following 'horrific levels of odour' last night. He said: "I am extremely surprised and angry about this, having been assured by the EA that the works required would take around four weeks 'if they do it properly'. How then can they have done it in less than a fortnight? My understanding is that they have worked at extreme pace to get the site reopened (no doubt losing income focused their efforts). But of course that only goes to show that the EA should have been tougher years ago."

WQL welcomed the EA's decision to withdraw the notice, and claimed that it was never justified in the first place.

A spokesperson said: "Lifting this Suspension Notice is 100 per cent the correct decision. Imposing it just over a week ago was inappropriate and ill-conceived as we said at the time. 

"It appeared to serve only the interests of the Environment Agency in seeking to justify its over-zealous scrutiny of Walleys Quarry. While we welcome the inevitable decision to lift the notice, we do not believe it was ever justified.

"Today's withdrawal notice comes following a significant effort by Walleys Quarry to complete the onsite works already in progress at the time that the notice was issued in the shortest timescale possible.

"Following the lifting of the notice, we will continue our work, implementing our extensive gas infrastructure and environmental engineering works in accordance with our focused, long-running and ongoing programmes.

"Ironically, the only effect this notice has had is to disrupt works already in progress, impose works we still consider superfluous and led to the delay of the site's wider development and capping programme. 

"As always, we remain dedicated to working with our community and the regulators to provide a clean, responsible and sustainable operation for Newcastle-under-Lyme."

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