A council in east London is urging the government to establish nationwide registers of contaminated sites as it confronts challenges posed by a persistent landfill site that is frequently ablaze.
Arnolds Field, located on Launders Lane in Rainham, was officially deemed contaminated after a judicial review took place in October. This former illegal landfill, referred to as the Rainham Volcano, has been plagued by numerous fires since 2013, prompting the fire brigade to respond to the area 160 times in the last three years.
At its upcoming meeting, Havering Council’s cabinet is anticipated to endorse the Zane’s Law initiative, which seeks to create public registers of contaminated locations across the country.
A soil assessment conducted in November 2023 revealed the Launders Lane site to contain asbestos, plastic bags, crisp packets, bricks, cans, polystyrene, and asphalt. Throughout its 20-year history, the area has also served as an illegal weapons stash and a cannabis cultivation site.
The council noted that the fires have released harmful particulates, with evidence suggesting a correlation between smoke exposure and increased visits to general practitioners for individuals with existing respiratory issues. Additionally, they recognized that ongoing stress associated with uncontrollable issues like fire and smoke may lead to negative psychological and physical health outcomes.
Initially, the council did not classify the land as contaminated, but a successful judicial review led the High Court to determine this decision was erroneous. The court found that council officials had based their conclusions on incomplete information and had misinterpreted legal definitions regarding contamination, mistakenly thinking that toxic smoke did not meet the criteria.
Ahead of the cabinet meeting, council leader Ray Morgon stated: “We understand the concerns residents have regarding contaminated land and the emotional and health problems it can bring about.”
Morgon highlighted the difficulty in resolving such issues, noting that current legislation does not help cover the expenses of making historic landfill sites safe for surrounding communities.
He added that supporting the Zane’s Law campaign was a straightforward decision, emphasizing that it aims to safeguard local communities. “If passed, it will also alleviate the financial burden of addressing contaminated lands, a significant challenge for councils dealing with years of insufficient funding,” he remarked.
“We will actively engage with the government and our local MPs to push this legislation through parliament.”
The proposed law is named after seven-year-old Zane Gbangbola, whose family asserts that he died due to gas emissions from an old landfill site in 2014. Last November, the London Assembly unanimously supported Zane’s Law.
