Abandoned Quarry Cleanup Raises Concerns Over Water Contamination

As of November 5th, 2025, residents in the East Yorkshire village of Pollington are voicing concerns over a proposal to reopen the former Middleton Quarry and remove thousands of tonnes of illegally dumped waste. The quarry, which operated as a sand and gravel site in the 1950s, was later used as an illegal dumping ground for toxic materials, including asbestos, in 2008.

Now, Matrix Aggregates Ltd has submitted a planning application to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council to reopen the quarry, remove the 127,000 tonnes of illegally dumped waste, and use the site for the disposal of "inert" commercial waste. However, local residents like Kerry Biddle say there is "enormous local opposition" to the plan, as the village's water supply comes from the rock beneath the quarry. They fear that disturbing the contaminated area could lead to toxins entering the groundwater, with potentially serious consequences for public health.

The Environment Agency has also objected to the plans, stating that the risk to groundwater has not been fully assessed. Retired industrial chemist John Bellwood, who lives near the former quarry, believes leaving the contaminated waste "in situ" would be a safer option than disturbing the area. The quarry site is now home to a thriving natural habitat, which local residents describe as a "nature reserve."

No date has been set for the planning application to be heard by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, which has declined to comment on the ongoing case.