Wastelands: Walleys Quarry an immersive radiophonic documentary, will have its first airing at the WinterSound Festival on Jan 17th 4-7pm and 18th 11-4pm at the Daphne Oram Gallery, room D0.02, Canterbury Christ Church University supported by Screen South and ACE. Via Screen Souths 16 speaker 14.1 channel rig.
Listen to the stereo mix future mixes will include dolby atmos and binaural.
A pressing immersive radiophonic journey sharing the personal accounts of those living next to Walley’s Quarry Landfill in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, run by Red Industries who breached its permit over 111 times and caught fire this summer. The landfill was shutdown by the environmental agency in Nov 2024, which the company is now appealing, however the stink continues to blight those living in the area.
After a decade of complaints from local people and members of action group Stop the Stink, Walleys Quarry and its toxic legacy lives on. Unfortunately, it’s the tip of the iceberg, a growing national scandal caused by current legislation, regulation and management of landfill in the UK and the legacy of the air and water pollution left behind by such sites.
In Oct 2024 it was found emissions of hydrogen sulphide emitted from Walleys Quarry had been under recorded by the EA between 2016 and 2023, in Oct 2024. Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council took legal action against the firm and finally the EA took action to close the site in Nov 2024, however Red Industries have put in an appeal against the closure, the stench continues as they cap it off and deal with the mess.
Ian Jones, Environment Agency West Midlands Area Director, said:
“We have every sympathy with the local community and have worked tirelessly to resolve the problem of landfill gas emissions from the site.
In doing so, we have taken a robust approach to regulating Walleys Quarry Ltd. Our aim has always been to bring the operator into compliance with its permit and the decision to issue a Closure Notice is not one we take lightly.
We have given Walleys Quarry Ltd sufficient time to put in place effective measures to manage emissions and it has failed to do so.”
Background
Magz Hall became aware of this growing national scandal after experiencing the stench from Shelford landfill Canterbury during lockdown, it led her to research this site and others which she will document in the future.
“I hopes the work will give a voice to some of the many people and communities directly affected by landfills built far too close to homes and allow the audience to experience what it’s like to be gassed in your home on a daily basis.”
New research shows landfill leachate treatment, which is the water cleaning process at such sites is creating and increasing banned PFAS chemicals substances into UK water table, all hugely concerning.
Artist Producer interviews and field recording Magz Hall
Music Mieko Shimizu
Engineer Gavin Roberts
Bio acoustics from the Radio Air Garden
Visuals from Mark Dizco
Project supported by Screen South and ACE
Magz Hall 
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