Community concerns prompt council action over alleged landfill noise and pollution
Council vows zero tolerance as it works with partners to address worries
CUMBERLAND Council is working with partner agencies in monitoring the operation of a landfill site to the north of Carlisle after concerns were raised by local residents.
Members of the full council met at The Civic Centre in Carlisle on Tuesday (May 12) where councillor Tim Pickstone (Longtown, Lib Dems) was given time to quiz councillor Denise Rollo (Harrington, Labour) who is the sustainable, resilient and connected places portfolio holder.
His question, which was taken as read, stated: “The council will be aware of the significant impact on local residents of the recent increase in activity at Hespin Wood landfill, following its takeover by a new operator in summer 2025 – with complaints about noise, smell, litter and increased HGV traffic.
“Given that the Environment Agency (EA) is the primary regulator can cllr Rollo set out what representations Cumberland Council has made to the EA, what use the council is making of its own planning enforcement powers, and whether the council is monitoring the reported increase in waste being imported from Scotland following the Scottish landfill ban?”
Cllr Rollo said that the council fully recognised the strength of local feeling about activity at Hespin Wood landfill and the impact that noise, odour, litter and HGV movements could have on nearby communities. She added: “We take these concerns seriously.”
She said that, as the primary environmental regulator, the EA leads on permitting, compliance and operational controls at licensed landfill sites.
Cllr Rollo said the council had been actively responding, working closely with regulatory and enforcement partners with which they had shared intelligence and resident complaints and the EA continued to engage constructively with them to ensure that these concerns were fully understood and investigated.
She said the council’s minerals and waste planning team had ‘increased the frequency of monitoring visits’ to this landfill site including unannounced visits and inspections carried out in conjunction with the EA.
Cllr Rollo said that a number of monitoring reports and formal letters to the operator had been issued which clearly specified actions that need to be taken to address identified non-compliances with the site’s planning permission. She added: “The council will continue to liaise with the EA.”
She said that the council’s planning enforcement powers were relatively limited, in the context of a landfill site, in comparison to the enforcement mechanisms/tools and sanctions available to the EA to use.
Cllr Pickstone asked for an assurance that the council would take enforcement action where needed and cllr Rollo said they would adopt a ‘zero tolerance approach’.