Breaking News: Council Declares Launders Lane Contaminated Land — Is This Justice at Last for Rainham Residents?

Is this justice at last for Rainham residents? After years of campaigning and community frustration, Havering Council has finally declared Arnold’s Field, Launders Lane, Rainham, as “contaminated land” under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

This long-awaited decision follows tireless efforts by campaigners, including Clear The Air Havering and local activist Ruth Kettle-Frisby, who fought a High Court battle to overturn the Council’s earlier decision not to identify the land as contaminated. Their persistence has paid off — but campaigners now ask: where do we go from here?

The Council released the following statement:

Havering Council has formally identified Arnold’s Field, Launders Lane, Rainham as “contaminated land” under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 following extensive investigations. This action paves the way for remediation and further gives effect to the Council’s commitment to protecting local residents from the ongoing blight of fires and pollution.

It follows a judicial review heard by the High Court which overturned the Council’s initial decision last year not to identify the land as contaminated. At the time of that previous decision, the Council emphasised that it would review the contaminated land status of Arnold’s Field as new information became available.

The High Court judgement provided new guidance about how smoke impacts should be considered under the Part 2A requirements. Since the High Court judgement, the Council has taken time to assess the acute impacts of smoke on physical health and long-term impacts of recurrent fires and smoke on mental wellbeing, which have now been taken into account — alongside further data, research, and analysis gathered in the intervening period.

Rainham residents hope this marks the start to a campaign to get justice after years of endless suffering.

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