Launders Lane Decision A Victory For Residents And An Important Step Forward For Children.

By Ruth Kettle-Frisby – Guest Writer and Community Activist

Ruth is passionate about fostering positive change within the local community and regularly contributes insights and stories to The Havering Daily.

Following Clear the Air in Havering’s High Court challenge, Havering Council has done the right thing and reversed its previous decision, finally designating Arnold’s Field on Launders Lane as contaminated land. 

This is a victory for Rainham residents; an important stepping stone towards justice for children living at the sharp end of this health crisis caused by toxic smoke from relentless fires. 

In highly welcome news, having consistently lobbied Havering Council to table a motion in support of Zane’s Law, we expect this report to be presented at full council next month. 

Zane’s Law would require local authorities and the environment agency to keep public registers of any land that could be contaminated. Crucially, they would be required to ensure these sites are regularly inspected and remediated via government funding that is recouped where possible according to the polluter pays principle. 

In June this year, the High Court ruled that Havering Council’s decision not to designate the land on Launders Lane as contaminated was unlawful.

This is because Havering Council did not initially consider the smoke from the fires as a contamination pathway. 

Now that the council has recognised this, there has been a legal precedent set by this case. 

Clear the Air in Havering is now focused on lobbying for swift action from Havering Council. 

Rainham residents continue to suffer as a result ofcontinued inaction.

It’s imperative that children and the London Fire Brigade are protected from yet another summer of hell.

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