In summary...

THE 40 recommendations made by the panel in its report on Walleys Quarry include:

The Environment Agency

The EA to ‘suspend the permit and... prohibit the importation of waste until source of odour has been identified and mitigated’;

They also seek an ‘ongoing commitment’ for it to monitor odour and other emissions, to publish its findings and take any appropriate regulatory action;

The EA should review the site risk assessment based on public concern and complaints, and for unannounced site audits/visits;

Lobbying the Government to change national planning policy in relation to the siting of landfills and/or nearby sensitive developments, and to provide an annual report for the council.

Newcastle Borough Council

The council should ‘undertake a review and appraisal of EA monitoring data and work with the EA for any future monitoring;

Prepare and undertake air pollution monitoring, the results of which shall be made available on the council’s website;

Request confirmation from the EA as to the odour source(s) and to specify appropriate method of control;

Investigate whether a ‘statutory odour nuisance’ exists, and seek legal advice on ‘any other legal routes to remedy odour and other issues identified to support the local community, business and residents’;

The council should also lobby the Government and borough MPS on national planning policy, as in relation to the siting of landfills and/or sensitive developments in close proximity to each other.

Red Industries

The company is asked to ‘publicly acknowledge the extent of public concern relating to the impact on the community from the operation of the landfill’ and to ‘pro-actively manage the matters of concern, rather than awaiting enforcement action to remedy public concerns’;

The panel says it should also ‘investigate and implement operational procedures to emulate best practice to mitigate odour – rather than statutory minimum’;

It should ‘provide real-time onsite air pollution monitoring on a publicly accessible forum’ as well as ‘updates to the surrounding community in relation to activities on site, eg. when gas drilling or equipment break-downs occur’;

Red is also asked to publish its environmental management plan, including complaints received, investigation reports and findings.

LEE Beard, aged 47, of Moston Street, has denied stealing alcohol worth £15.98 from Home Bargains, Longton, on February 6. He was bailed until his trial at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on August 16.