Independent study reports on community impact of Walleys Quarry

An independent study into the community impact of the Walleys Quarry odour problem says residents feel 'let-down, angry and worried about what may happen next'.

Conducted independently by Arcadis Consulting, it says residents in communities near the Newcastle landfill remain very concerned about the health consequences of both short and long-term exposure to air pollution.

Based on questionnaires, publicly available data, direct conversations with residents, businesses and schools, and longer meetings with a community panel, the report's conclusions and recommendations include:

• introduce long-term monitoring of physical health and mental well- being in affected communities;
• consider the provision of mental well-being support for schools in the area;
• trust in public sector organisations has been damaged and needs rebuilding;
• better, simplified, sharing of information with residents;
• transparent communication of the plans for the reinstatement of the site after its closure.

Focusing on the period 2021-24, the study was commissioned jointly by a group of public bodies, including Staffordshire County Council, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, the Environment Agency and the UK Health Security Agency.

Dr Richard Harling was delegated to lead the project and the report is being presented to Staffordshire County Council's Health and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee early next month.

Dr Harling said:

The purpose of this project was to understand the consequences of this long-running problem for the community, particularly those issues which may be less apparent.

And I am grateful for the community talking to the researchers so freely and openly about their experiences.

I think, in part, the enthusiasm to take part in this study was driven by a deep frustration with the situation and how powerless people feel."

Complaints over foul odours coming from the landfill, owned by Walley Quarry Ltd, rose substantially in the winter of 2020/21 and have remained an issue since.

The report will be available here .

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