Havering Friends of the Earth anxious about the environmental damage caused by Arnold Fields fires.

Havering Friends of the Earth is very anxious about the environmental damage caused by the underground fires on privately owned land called Arnold’s Field in Rainham. This environmental damage is having a cumulative effect and the basic toxicity could be a health concern to nearby residents. Apart from this, the disgusting smells and smoke must be an issue for normal day to day living and well-being.

While monitoring takes place of the levels of air pollution, we wonder what remedial action is being considered?

In the 1970s and 80s, a similar situation was experienced by South Hornchurch residents in the area now known as Ingrebourne Hill, which was then called Bates’ Land. There was a private landowner who was massively uncooperative also.

After many years of struggle and the regular feature of ‘hotspots’, it was decided to dig a trench which ran round the whole land perimeter. Methane drainage tubes were inserted and this was the solution to the problem. Illicit dumping had taken place on this land for years and was not monitored in any way by the then GLC. There were concerns about medical waste and no one knew what was really there in the landfill.

We wonder if remedial action can be speedily undertaken and there clearly needs to be some recognition of flaws in planning law which have allowed this land desecration to take place.