Issue - meetings

That the update report be received.

The Leader introduced an update report on Walleys Quarry Odours, handing over to the Chief Executive for an update on what had been happening over the past month.

The Chief Executive reported that there had been 16 odour reports in June.  Officers were continuing to look at the locations of the reports and were particularly looking at the description of the odour which had changed since the closure of the site.

The Council would continue to work towards recovery over a longer period –including the autumn which had traditionally been a difficult period with weather conditions impacting upon the odours coming from the site.

Twelve proactive assessments were undertaken in June, with the highest rating being 3. This had been taken on site whilst the Leader of the Council, officers and key agencies were on a visit.  Works undertaken by the Environment Agency (EA) could be seen, as could works that had been left undone by the company.

The company remained in its liquidated state and had not, as yet, been wound up.  The Council had corresponded with the liquidators with regard to the outstanding sums that were owed to the Council and on information on the company’s arrangements.

The Leader stated that the visit to the site, which had been arranged by the EA, had been a good one, being able to see the site in a much better state than when the operators left it.

At the site meeting, the Leader had made the case that a close eye needed to be kept on the situation throughout the winter phase.  The EA had said that the monitoring station at the pump station on Silverdale Road would be removed to allow for works to take place by Severn Trent Water.  The EA stated that they would carry out a review once work was completed at the pump station, to see if the equipment needed to be returned.  The Leader was keen for that to happen should there be a resurgence of odours in the autumn.  If there was no resurgence, the Council would be moving to a phase looking to restore the site.

The Leader referred to the leachate plant used to control odours had not been kept up to standard and was not therefore doing its job.

Members agreed that a watching brief should be kept on the site, particularly over the next autumn/winter.  In addition, it was hoped that the current MP would ensure that the Council received government funding for remediation of the site.

Resolved:    That the update report be received.

Watch the debate here