Lawyer in Corby toxic waste scandal concerned council don't have answers
Des Collins represented families affected in a landmark case in 2009 where the Borough Council were found negligent in their handing of waste at the former steel works.
The lawyer for families affected by the Corby toxic waste scandal says he concerned the council don't have answers for worried families.
Des Collins represented families affected in a landmark case in 2009 where the Borough Council were found negligent in their handing of waste at the former steel works.
Children died shortly before or after birth or were born with limb differences.
Back in February Netflix made a drama about the scandal starring Jodie Whittaker and Aimee Lou Wood.
Since then Des says around 40-50 more families have contacted him concerned they may have been affected. Whilst other groups say they are in touch with 54 families.
Des says there was evidence at the trial that suggests other waste went elsewhere:
"This is evidence which came out of the trial back in 2009 or 2010. The evidence shows quite clearly that at some point towards the back end of this operation it was quite clear that the inquiry was not big enough to contain all this toxic waste"
Des adds other evidence which came out at the trial:
"I suspect what happened basically was there too much to go into Dean Quarry. So they buried in other parts, at the time there's evidence that some of it was used for public car parks, it was broken up."
Some of the records were digital and Des feels it may be that the paper trial is difficult to find:
"I think the Council don't necessarily have the answers that these these families want and need, but those answers can be provided to them by the Council, actually.
"Doing some work on the issue, trying instead of saying oh, this is so long ago and we don't really have enough information at our fingertips, the Council need to put a team of people on this and sort it out."
North Northamptonshire Council said in statement:
"Waste from the former steelworks was moved to Deene Quarry, a former landfill site on the outskirts of Corby where it was buried. This site is managed under an environmental permit held by North Northamptonshire Council and compliance with the conditions of the permit are regulated by the Environment Agency – gas and water sampling takes place on a yearly basis as part of the requirements of the permit."
They point us to their website on Contaminated Land.