Green Party leader Natalie Bennett this morning joined Gateshead Green Party members in visiting the Path Head landfill site near Blaydon, where local residents have complained about noxious smells and fear possible contamination, including to a downstream allotment site.
Bennett said:
“Local people feel they have been abandoned by the political establishment. Their concerns are not being listened to or acted on.
“Gateshead Green Party is calling for independent audit of the operation of the site, to address these concerns, and consistent monitoring of the now long-running odour issues.
“There have been a number of cases of ill health that local residents fear are linked to the site – these need to be thoroughly investigated.”
Local Green candidate Ralf Russow, who stood in the Crawcrook and Greenside ward in last week’s election, said:
“Gateshead Borough Council is not listening or responding to the concerns of the residents. This has to end. We need to hear from the council about its long-term strategy to get the odour problem under control, and to ensure consistent monitoring of the site.”