Effect of Walleys Quarry Ltd entering Liquidation

Liquidation allows a company to be ‘wound up’ after it stops trading. You can read more about liquidation and insolvency here: Liquidation and insolvency - GOV.UK and here: Liquidate your limited company: Arrange liquidation with your creditors - GOV.UK.

You can find details of the Liquidators for Walleys Quarry Ltd, Michael Denny and Jonathan Marston of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP, in Notices published online at Companies House and in the London Gazette.

Disclaimer extinguishes all rights and obligations of the company in relation to the environmental permit.

There is now no permit in relation to the site.

The environmental permit no longer exists. The Closure Notice does not survive the disclaimer of the Permit, as it depends on the existence of the permit.

Decisions on the statutory appeal are a matter for the Planning Inspectorate. The Environment Agency will provide an update on the statutory appeal on Engagement HQ when we have further information.

The Environment Agency has attended the landfill and assessed it. We do not consider that it presents an immediate risk of serious pollution, including harm to human health.

CLP Envirogas Limited is continuing to operate the onsite landfill gas management system. The latest data from the Mobile Monitoring Facilities confirms that levels of fugitive landfill gas outside the site are low. Officers have identified there is still some work to do in respect of the infrastructure steps in the Closure Notice.

As our update on 5 March 2025 indicates, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will continue to work with partners to support residents by analysing air quality data and providing public health risk assessments.

As we have previously explained by reference to the Closure Notice, there will always be some background odour at landfill sites. Stopping further waste entering the site will help reduce the odour potential. Capping the site will also help contain fugitive emissions of odorous landfill gas and increase the volume / rate of landfill gas extraction, preventing its escape.

In our update on 7 February 2025, we confirmed that Walleys Quarry Ltd had carried out certain steps required by the Closure Notice. There is still some work to do in respect of those steps.

When there are periods of cold, still weather leading to poor dispersion conditions, the impact of any landfill gas emissions from the site may be more noticeable.

The Liquidators for Walleys Quarry Ltd have disclaimed the site. Following disclaimer the property is subject to ‘escheat’, a legal process under which it falls to be dealt with by the Crown Estate. You can read more about escheat here: FAQs | The Crown Estate. In practice the Crown Estate does not take any action which might be construed as an act of management, possession or ownership - the Crown Estate does not act as guarantor of last resort for companies and individuals who have failed financially. The Environment Agency is not responsible for the site, but is arranging for steps to be taken there under its discretionary powers.

The Environment Agency is using its discretionary powers to arrange for steps to be taken on site to remove a risk of serious pollution. These steps include:

• Securing the site to prevent access by trespassers, who could damage the infrastructure necessary to manage emissions.
• Installing temporary capping, to a small area of previously deposited waste. This was required by the Closure Notice, but was not completed by Walleys Quarry Ltd. The area is in the same location where bubbling liquid can be seen on recent drone footage. The liquid will be removed by tankers to allow this work to take place.
• Remedial work to improve the stability of waste near the western flank. There has been some localised slippage, and this work will help protect the integrity of capping in that area.
• A review of current arrangements and, subject to that, possible alterations to ensure that the surface water is managed effectively.
• Actions to manage the groundwater under the site and leachate levels within the capped area, to avoid harm to the integrity of the landfill containment system.

The Environment Agency is using its limited, discretionary powers under Regulation 57 of the Environmental Permitting Regulations to arrange for steps to be taken to remove a risk of serious pollution.

The current work being undertaken at the site is being funded by the financial provision that Walleys Quarry Ltd provided in accordance with its environmental permit.

Because Walleys Quarry Ltd has ceased operations, has entered liquidation and the Liquidators appointed have disclaimed the permits held by Walleys Quarry Ltd, and title to the landfill site.

The EA has discretionary powers under Regulation 57 EPR to arrange for steps to be taken to remove a risk of serious pollution. The Environment Agency is able to use the financial provision provided by WQL in accordance with its environmental permit to fund these steps.

CLP is the gas contractor at Walleys Quarry. It is a separate company from Walleys Quarry Ltd. CLP’s role is landfill gas management, including operating the gas engines that produce power for the electricity grid from the landfill gas extracted from the site. CLP continues to look after the gas management system for the site.