HOSPITAL MAKES AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT ABOUT QUARRY STINK
Mum-of-two living near landfill says smell is ‘disgusting’
BOSSES at Stoke-on-trent’s biggest hospital have lodged an official complaint about the smell from a controversial quarry.
Health chiefs at the Royal Stoke reported ‘concerns regarding hydrogen sulphide’ to Newcastle Borough Council last weekend.
It comes as the stench from Walleys Quarry attracted more than 2,000 complaints over the same weekend.
A Royal Stoke University Hospital spokesman said: “Concerns regarding hydrogen sulphide around the Royal Stoke University Hospital during the weekend have been reported to Newcastle Borough Council.
“The authority is in discussions with the Environment Agency and the landfill site operator about these.”
Mum-of-two Rebecca Currie lives near the Silverdale site and has two young sons with respiratory conditions.
The 40-year-old, who has an infant son on oxygen, said: “I’ve never had headaches before, but now I’m going to bed with a headache and getting up with one. I was up at 3am with one the other day.
“My older son keeps saying he’s got a sore throat, I had to take him to the chemist to get him some relief.
“It was that bad last weekend that I had to tape my keyholes to try to get some relief – but it didn’t work.
“In a hospital, patients are already suffering and if they’re on the respiratory wards I can’t imagine, it must be horrendous.
“It’s absolutely disgusting and the landfill wants capping off.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was made aware of the issue during a visit to Tunstall earlier this week.
The matter is also regularly raised in Parliament by Newcastle MP Aaron Bell.
The council is calling for an immediate halt to operations at the site, which is operated by Red Industries.
A Red Industries spokesman said: “We operate our facility in compliance with our environmental permit and planning permission.
“The Environment Agency is currently carrying out a third air monitoring study, and we continue to work closely with the regulator.”