That this House welcomes the Closure Notice issued to the operators of Walleys Quarry landfill site in Newcastle-under-Lyme on Thursday 28 November 2024; acknowledges that the closure notice was issued after an independent and thorough investigation by the Environment Agency as the regulator; recognises the anger, frustration and the mental, physical and emotional impact on local people of the stink emitting from the site; notes that this decision will be welcomed by thousands and thousands of local people who have endured so much for so long; expresses deep appreciation to all those who live, learn and work in Newcastle-under-Lyme who campaigned in the rain, sleet and snow to stop the stink over many years; further acknowledges that the focus must now shift to the remediation and long-term safety of the site; further notes that the restoration of the site must be a priority alongside assessing its condition, addressing contamination, and ensuring it is safely managed for the decades ahead; reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the site is capped and maintained, with proper support in place to protect the community; and further recognises that above all this is a victory for local people in the Ancient Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme and across Staffordshire.
