WALLEYS BOSS HITS OUT AT PROTESTERS AND MP
Open letter claims Aaron Bell is ‘making unity harder to achieve’
THE boss of controversial landfill site Walleys Quarry has criticised ‘extreme’ protesters and Newcastle’s MP in an open letter to people living nearby.
Chief executive Nigel Bowen says he wrote the letter to address concerns and ‘correct falsehoods’.
The Silverdale landfill has been the subject of thousands of complaints from the public, mostly relating to the stink caused by the hydrogen sulphide gas coming from the site.
The Environment Agency has been carrying out air quality monitoring and enforcement action in response to the complaints, and is also investigating allegations of illegal waste activities.
But in the letter, Mr Bowen insists his company is making ‘substantial progress’ in reducing emissions.
He also rejects the allegations hazardous waste was illegally dumped, adding: “We comply with all regulations applying to the waste processing and disposal industry. You may have heard about the disposal of hazardous waste on our site – this is completely untrue.
“We never have and never would allow this.
Mr Bowen goes on to criticise demonstrators for carrying out ‘obstructive and hostile actions’, which he claims have disrupted work to reduce emissions. Newcastle MP Aaron Bell is also singled out for criticism.
Mr Bell has frequently raised the issue of Walleys Quarry in the Commons, and used parliamentary privilege to publicise the allegations of illegal waste activities.
Mr Bowen added: “Nor does it seem right that our Conservative MP, whose duty it is to represent all constituents, has chosen to represent only one side of this debate.
“We want unity, not division, but our MP’S actions, including the false statements he has made in Parliament, are making this unity harder to achieve.”
Mr Bell responded to Walleys Quarry, saying he stood by everything he had said about the landfill in Parliament.
He said: “This letter is a slap in the face to Newcastle residents, given it is the operator who is responsible for their ongoing suffering.
“As the three category one breaches earlier this year demonstrate, Walleys must be the only people in Newcastle who believe that they comply with regulation.
“I stand by my speeches in Parliament and will continue to stand up for the constituency of Newcastle.”
Stop the Stink campaigner Sara Owen added: “My and everyone else’s actions have been by the community for the community.”