Campaigners organizing a children’s protest march in Newcastle-under-Lyme have announced that comedian and writer Lucy Beaumont will be making a special guest appearance at the event.
The Meet the Richardsons star said she was “really looking forward to being able to attend and at the same time very upset about this needing to take place”.
The event organized by campaign group Stop the Stink/Cap It Off is being held to highlight the impact of the ‘stink’ caused by waste dumped at Walley’s Quarry on the health of children living in the area.
Lucy went on to say after listening to an audio recording of a meeting between site operators Red Industries and local families she feels it is ‘vital that the Environment Agency do everything in their power to help the community.’
The event on, which will take place in Queen’s Gardens following a march though the town will also highlight the case against the Environment Agency (EA) being taken to the European Court of Justice by Rebecca Currie.
The mother from Silverdale is taking the EA to court claiming that emissions from the quarry are damaging the health of her son Matthew, who has chronic lung disease. In September last year a court ruled that the EA must act on advice from Public Health England that hydrogen sulphide concentrations in the area must be reduced to one part per billion.
In December, the Court of Appeal overturned the decision following representations from the EA, and appeal by MS Currie to the Supreme Court was rejected, the case in the European Court of justice is ongoing.
A spokesperson for Stop the Stink/Cap It Off said, ‘we are hugely grateful for all the support Lucy has given to our campaign and look forward to welcoming her to Newcastle on Saturday’.