I’ve been working hard alongside my colleague, Lola McEvoy MP, to raise residents’ concerns about the Newton Aycliffe Landfill site. Last week I visited the site with Lola and officials from the Environment Agency to discuss concerns around the odour problems from the site with the owners, Ashcourt Group. This follows my earlier request for an urgent update from the Environment Agency on the situation at the quarry.
On site, we discussed residents’ concerns and received a briefing from the senior management team of Ashcourt Group. It was clear, and very welcome, that important steps had been taken to address these issues, including £3m of works to improve the management of landfill gases.
The key test here is whether the evidence shows air quality has improved in the area as a result of these works. I’ve asked the Environment Agency and the UK Health and Security Agency for the latest round of results of their air quality monitoring. I will continue to monitor the situation and share the latest results once I have them.
Residents have also been in touch to raise concerns that another operator on the industrial estate is also generating foul odours. I asked the Environment Agency to investigate this and am meeting them to hear about the progress made.
I’m really pleased that my staff team is now up to full strength, and we’re working hard to serve our local communities. Please email me on alan.strickland.mp@parliament.uk if there is anything you think I can help with.
I held a constituency advice surgery in Newton Aycliffe last week. Thank you to the residents that attended to discuss important issues. Thank you also to Newton Aycliffe Youth and Community Centre for hosting me.
My next advice surgeries are listed below, to book your appointment please email me:
• 9th November, 10.30am-12.30pm – Croxdale
• 15th November, 3.30pm-5.30pm – West Cornforth
• 22nd November, 4.00pm-6.00pm – Ferryhill
• 29th November, 4.00pm-6.00pm – Newton Aycliffe.
Whilst in Parliament I asked the Home Secretary about police numbers in County Durham. From 2010 to 2020, 408 police officers were cut from Durham Constabulary, a third of it’s overall strength. I asked the Minister about the government’s commitment to improve police numbers in our area and am confident that Labour’s commitment to 13,000 more police nationally will make a difference locally. Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour is a top priority for me and the extra bobbies on the beat will help deliver on this.
This week we have the first Labour budget for 14 years. The Budget will be about fixing the foundations of our country. The number one mission of the government is to get our economy growing, to create jobs, attract investment and get more money in people’s pockets. This means we will be able to grow wages, improve our NHS and rebuild Britain. We have inherited an economy that isn’t working for working people. This budget will outline how we intend to fix the last 14 years of decline.
Thank you to all of the residents who have been in touch this week about a wide range of issues. If I can help you with something, or you have an issue to raise, please get in touch via email on:
alan.strickland.mp@parliament.uk
Alan Strickland, MP for Newton Aycliffe & Spennymoor.