Walleys Quarry public hearings scheduled

Community groups, the site operator, the Environment Agency (EA), UK Health Security Agency, local councils and Newcastle MP Adam Jogee have all been invited to take part by a special scrutiny committee of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council.

Both days will take place at the Council’s Castle House headquarters and focus on:

• the impact of the continuing issue;
• next steps, and by whom, to bring about resolution;
• whether there have been missed opportunities to resolve the issue.

Cllr Robert Bettley-Smith, chair of the cross-party scrutiny committee, said:

We understand that people simply want an end to the problems coming from Walleys Quarry.

 

So a large part of the process will be focused on recording the continuing effect of this problem on our residents and looking at how we can get to where we want to be.

 

We can use this testimony to keep pressing those responsible to help our community and take the effective action needed.”

The scrutiny committee was established by a meeting of the Full Council earlier this year called to discuss the continuing odour problems coming from Walleys Quarry.

Invited bodies, groups and organisations will provide statements and be questioned about their submissions.

On Tuesday, 23 July it’s intended that the 10am-noon session will hear from the site operator, Staffordshire County Council and local politicians, including Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council.

From 2pm-4pm representatives of local residents including Stop the Stink community group, Silverdale Parish Council, Walleys Quarry Liaison Committee and Aspire Housing have been invited to speak.

The final session that day from 6pm-9pm will focus on health issues, including submissions from the UKHSA and Staffordshire’s Director of Health and Care.

Then on Wednesday 14 August from 2pm-5pm the Environment Agency will be in attendance.

Simon Tagg is giving evidence in his capacity as Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. He said:

Not only will this be a very visible and important summary of where we stand after suffering this problem for far too long, it will also point the way forward.

 

The Environment Agency is the main regulator of this site and although this council continues to do all within its limited powers to support residents I think there are lessons to be learned nationally about how the EA has mishandled this incident.”

The hearings will be open to the public, however space is limited and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. The four sessions will also be streamed live online and can be accessed here.