Landfill operator accused of breaching Abatement Notice

The council notified Walleys Quarry Ltd, a subsidiary of Red Industries Ltd, yesterday that the site operator has failed to properly control emissions from the landfill in Silverdale.

An Abatement Notice which became enforceable in March 2023, following a successful legal action brought by the Borough Council, obliges the operator to not create or allow statutory odour nuisance.

Simon McEneny, Interim Chief Executive of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said:

Since the Abatement Notice came into effect we have been monitoring the odour in the communities near Walleys Quarry, with officers visiting people’s homes to take readings when necessary day or night.

 

There is a formal process of evidence gathering for our officers to follow and that has taken time, however we now believe that the operator has failed to properly control emissions and as a consequence we are preparing to take legal action.

 

We will provide more detail to residents in due course.”

The Abatement Notice also saw the operator acknowledge that its site was the source of ‘community complaint’ and that it must control odour problems by ‘the best practicable means’.

Although it is taking this step the council remains committed to working with members of the Walleys Quarry Strategic Coordinating Group over any further enforcement activities.