Originally it had not intended to consult on the application because the changes were technical in nature. But it now says that “subsequent developments at the site meant that we reviewed our position and notwithstanding the limited nature of the changes, considered the public would be interested in the Application. As a result, we have decided to consult on our draft decision.”
Meanwhile, Newcastle-under-Lyme borough council has sent an official letter of complaint to the head of the Agency, Sir James Bevan, about his organisation’s “failure to adequately regulate” the site.
Operated by Red Industries, the controversial site in the Staffordshire village of Silverdale has been the subject of substantial protests due to odour and related issues.
Walleys Quarry’s permit variation application, submitted in July 2020, proposes two changes. The first sees the operator request to use a geo-synthetic layer to seal the site, rather than the current requirement for clay.
The second change involves the introduction of revised limits of methane and carbon dioxide measured at specific boreholes at the perimeter of the site.
The Agency says it is “satisfied” that the proposals do not increase the risk to the environment or human health and so is proposing to accept the variations.
The consultation begins today and will remain open for 20 days.
Letsrecycle.com has contacted Walleys Quarry for comment.
Complaint
Newcastle-under-Lyme borough council announced on 15 February that it had sent an official letter of complaint to Sir James about the site.
Council leader Simon Tagg, together with Staffordshire county council, is also seeking an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State and Defra officials to discuss “alternative interventions”.
Newcastle-under-Lyme borough council says it received a total of 22,239 complaints about Walleys Quarry in 2021, making up two thirds of the overall complaints for all environmental issues that year.
In the same period, the Environment Agency received 43,262 complaints, the council says.
The council has served Walleys Quarry Ltd with a statutory nuisance abatement notice which is currently under appeal and set for trial later this year.
Cllr Tagg said: “This situation is simply unacceptable and should not be allowed to continue. A year on we seem to be no closer to addressing the key question – when will this stink be stopped?
“The Environment Agency holds the responsibility for regulating the site and because of their continued failure we are lodging a formal complaint about the effectiveness of its regulatory approach.”
The council says it will refer its complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman for further action if it does not get a “satisfactory” response.
Odour
The Environment Agency says it received 120 reports about odour from the site via its national incident hotline in the week from 7-13 February.
This was an increase in the number of reports compared to the previous week, the environmental regulator says.
Related link
Walleys Quarry Ltd environmental permit consultation
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