Credit: ITV Central
Walleys Quarry landfill has been viewed with disdain and distaste since 2016 when excessive hydrogen sulphide gas started to bleed from the landfill. These numbers were discovered to have been under-reported by a (very timely) audit in August 2023, due to improperly calibrated hydrogen sulphide gas monitors. This led to the Environment Agency issuing a closure notice to the landfill site (that and the worsening compliance of Walleys Quarry).
Since the article in the January edition of Concourse, there have been some updates. Firstly, the Environment Agency has kept a close eye on Walleys Quarry to ensure that the terms of the closure notice were not breached. An inspection on 3rd February found that Walleys Quarry had indeed installed and connected additional gas collection infrastructure, capturing an additional 600 m3 of hydrogen sulphide gas and had laid down 26,000 m2 of temporary capping over previously exposed landfill. The Environment Agency has also stated that they are aware of the smell that has been intermittently released during the works and have called this “unacceptable,” but are hopeful that once the capping work is completed, then that will have been the last of the stink.
In even better news for the locals (but not the best, that comes later), on 30th January, the planning courts held a hearing between the Environment Agency and Walleys Quarry Landfill, who were appealing the closure notice. On 4th February the courts ruled against the appeal, this held the closure notice in place and prevents the quarry from taking in more landfill. In response to the court’s decision, Walleys Quarry gave a press release in which they stated that, “we are disappointed with the court’s decision and remain clear that keeping the site open delivers the greatest benefit and sustainability for the site.” (Might I remind the reader of the 2023 compliance assessment report score of 251.1, which puts the quarry in category F by a country mile). They ended the message with their new timeless classic: “As a business, we completely reject the accusations made by the Environment Agency relating to poor management of the landfill site…”
Adding to the better news above, on 28th February it was announced that Walleys Quarry Limited had gone into liquidation and their website has since also been taken down. The Environment Agency has reassured Silverdale residents that the liquidation will not affect the closure notice and that they will work with the liquidators to ensure that the stink will not return. As of the time of writing, Walleys Quarry has yet to give a statement. However, it should be warned, since 5th March it was announced that the liquidators had disclaimed the environmental permits which means that all permits for landfill and soil treatment no longer exist. This has not stopped gas collection, and the Environment Agency is still working on ensuring the safety of the site with their discretionary powers, used to try to prevent pollution from seeping further into Silverdale and the wider area. The water is still rocky around Walleys Quarry Landfill, but residents affected by it are hopeful that their blight is almost to an end.
