Issue - meetings

That the contents of the update report be noted

The Service Director for Neighbourhood Delivery presented a report updating Cabinet on the latest position regarding Walleys Quarry.

The data focussed on the period March-May, 2026.  To date, in 2026 there had been seven complaints of odour received.  Monitoring undertaken by officers had  revealed two occasions of a distinct odour being observed on Cemetery Road and Barnacle Place in April.  Hydrogen sulphide monitoring also recorded a zero level and there was only one week in March where the WHO odour annoyance level was exceeded.

There was now only the one MMF which was sited at Galingale.

The site would continue to be monitored and there were proposals to establish a cross-party working group.

The Leader asked what the current position was, at the present time, regarding legal proceedings.

The Service Director advised that at present, the Council was not involved in taking any legal proceedings.   The Environment Agency had identified that they were looking at legal proceedings.

The Leader asked for clarification in respect of the monitoring stations.

The Service Director advised that there was currently one monitoring station which was measuring a wide range of pollutants on the Galingale estate.

The Leader thanked the officers for their hard work over the years and congratulated the previous administration for their hard work.  It was now important that justice be sought for residents.  The Leader asked if there was any indication that the government would engage in a public inquiry.

Requests had been made for a public inquiry but there was no support for that at this moment in time.

The Leader stated that once the EA had completed its legal proceedings, the Council would reaffirm its commitment to push for a public inquiry.

Resolved:    That the contents of the update report be noted

Watch the debate here