Clear The Air In Havering Campaigners Welcome Major Breakthrough As Havering Council Now Commit To Making New Decision Whether The Site On Launders Lane Should Be Designated As Contaminated Land.

‘This is an important victory, especially given that Havering Council had previously argued that the case was baseless and shouldn’t even go forward‘-Writes Ruth Kettle-Frisby A Clear The Air in Havering Campaigner.

Myself and Clear the Air in Havering welcome the High Court’s decision to grant permission to proceed with our legal case against Havering Council. The judge, in considering whether the claim met the bar to proceed, labelled the claim as “significant”. In a major breakthrough, Havering Council has committed to making a new decision about whether the site on Launders Lane should be designated as contaminated land, regardless of the court hearing, citing the availability of new information. 

This is an important victory, especially given that Havering Council had previously argued that the case was baseless and shouldn’t even go forward

This is an important victory, especially given that Havering Council had previously argued that the case was baseless and shouldn’t even go forward.

A final hearing is listed for 17–18 March, when the court will decide whether Havering Council must remake its decision not to designate the site at Launders Lane as contaminated land.

In addition, you may remember that in September, Havering Council withdrew its abatement notice against the landowner, saying that an agreement had been reached pursuant to which the landowner would undertake works on site to prevent further fires. 

Shockingly, Havering Council has now confirmed there is no enforceable agreement with the landowner to stop the fires: there are no agreed standards the landowner must meet, and no outcomes the council can enforce to hold the landowner to account. If the landowner simply fails to take action, or the action he does take doesn’t stop the fires, there is nothing the council can do to force further works to take place except issue another abatement notice, which will then take another five months or more to get to a hearing. This leaves the residents of Rainham potentially facing yet another summer of fires and yet another year going past with nothing being done on site to improve matters. 

This is simply not good enough, and illustrates why it is so important to force the council to properly consider its duties in relation to this land, and to consider its legal requirements in assessing it.

We are calling for community input:

Having pushed for community views to be considered on this decision, Haveting Council has agreed to review any evidence  before the end of January. 

If you are concerned about the lack of action and enforcement, or have information or evidence relevant to Launders Lane, please send it to Havering Council at your earliest opportunity. You should also contact your MP and the Mayor’s Office. 

You can support Clear the Air in Havering to fund legal action following this link: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/stop-the-fires-launders-lane/

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