What Next For Rainham? Residents Choke As Summer begins.

As the summer officially began on Saturday 21 June, bringing with it the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures reaching a sweltering 34°C, most people were out enjoying the sunshine. But for the residents of Rainham, this time of year only brings dread. While others bask in the sun, those living near the notorious Launders Lane landfill site are bracing for yet another season of smoky fumes that seep into their homes and lungs.

Despite the land being deemed “not toxic”, those who live in the surrounding streets are telling a very different story. They’re waking up to thick, polluted air that’s difficult to breathe. Children are being kept indoors, windows are sealed shut, and some residents are now resorting to wearing masks inside their own homes. This isn’t a developing country — this is Rainham in 2025.

Catherine, a passionate member of the Launders Lane Steering Group, is currently in hospital in a critical care unit after suffering from pneumonia. Could the ongoing exposure to these fumes be linked? It’s a question only the doctors can answer — but it’s a question that desperately needs asking.

This past weekend, like many before it, saw local firefighters battling fires across Rainham. Between 1 June and 20 June alone, firefighters were called out to four separate four-pump fires and seven two-pump fires in the area. That’s the equivalent of a fire engine being deployed in Rainham almost every other day. Whether it’s Launders Lane, Lambs Lane, or Ingrebourne Hill, problem is unrelenting.

And it doesn’t stop there. Just yesterday, a fire broke out directly opposite Launders Lane. Trees on the edge of the Harris Academy school field caught alight, sending yet more smoke and fumes into the air. For the people of Rainham, this is no longer an occasional concern — it’s a constant assault on their health, their wellbeing, and their right to live in a clean and safe environment.

So what comes next for Rainham? The community is exhausted, the children are being denied their summers, and the smoky cloud that looms over the area shows no sign of dissipating. It’s time for real answers, real accountability, and most importantly, real action.

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