Air quality tests on decade-long rubbish dump fire to take another six months say council

Despite a survey being carried out in 2011 that claimed it could pose a risk to human health, Havering Council claims it needs another six months to assess the air quality around a constantly burning landfill site.

The area, on Launders Lane in Rainham had been used as an illegal rubbish dump for around 20 years until the police raided the site 12 years ago.

The site is made up of around 25, 12-13m deep pits containing an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 cubic metres of unregulated waste which has been found to contain sulphate, lead and benzo(a)pyrene. But it is not so much the contents of the tip that is concerning Rainham residents but the effects of the smoke from the fires that break out on a regular basis. In essence, the tip has been on fire beneath the surface for ten years, with regular break-outs that require the fire service to attend – 80 times in one 12 month period.

Havering Council began a study of the air quality surrounding the site last summer and last week Council leader Ray Morgon said another six months monitoring was needed to give a clear indication of the risks to human health.

An ITV investigation in January worked with greater urgency, bringing in a team from University College London who monitored areas around the site for nine days. They found that levels of PM2.5 were three times the WHO limit, prompting Dr Elizabeth Cooper from UCL to say: ‘If these levels are truly staying this high or higher then I think it’s an unacceptable risk in the community.’

The team also found that rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema, appear to be potentially 50% higher in Rainham than the rest of London.

It is estimated it would take around £10m to clear the site but neither the current owner of the land, or the previous one – responsible for the illegal tipping – are in any position to do this.

Ray Morgon said: ‘The council just hasn’t got that kind of money and in any event, it’s a bit of private land so it wouldn’t necessarily be right for the council to be spending taxpayer money. I think it’s probably going to finish up being the government who may have to find money to completely remediate the site and get rid of the problem”.

Last week, the Dagenham and Rainham MP Jon Cruddas wrote to London Mayor, Sadiq Khan for help.