Council Leader Responds To Launders Lane Smog.

Havering’s Leader of the Council, Councillor Ray Morgon today writes in the Havering Daily.

I am writing in response to the article on 11 September headlined: Exclusive: Launders Lane Smog Forcing Children Indoors Missing Out On Vital Outdoor Play.

I fully sympathise with the concerns of residents who have suffered years of smoke from these fires that are on private land. This is not acceptable or fair.

When I became Leader, I said I would do all I can to sort this out. It has not been easy.

This is privately owned land and therefore we have to respond in a way that is set out in legislation. This means looking at the evidence in detail to build a case to help us respond. This includes health records, air and water quality data, what is actually causing the fires, complaints, and much more.

A paper is going to our Cabinet meeting on 17 September that sets out the history and the options we are considering in response. The actual decisions on which options to pursue will be made in the coming weeks and the Council continues to do all it can to find a solution to stop the fires (and associated smoke) and to ensure that those legally responsible for resolving the situation do so as quickly as possible. It is however a complex situation.

The first step is for the Council to make a decision on whether the site should be designated as “contaminated land” under the law. That will then broadly determine whether we move towards a remediation notice or an abatement notice. Both have certain criteria you need to meet set out in legislation. Whichever route is taken, we have also looked at various options and solutions that can be put in place to actually stop the fires that can be incorporated into the relevant notice or otherwise pursued. The various steps required by law have to be followed but, ultimately, it will be then for the landowner to resolve as it is privately owned land.

I know he has said that it is down to the council not agreeing to his planning demands. This is Green Belt and certain rules need to be followed, as set out in planning policy. It is down to the landowner to make a planning application to bring forward his proposals for the site. As yet, we have not received a planning application. 

Irrespective of that, when we make a decision on the next steps, we want the landowner to act quickly so residents do not continue to suffer any more.

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