Telford waste centre blaze: Parish council alleges delays in air quality investigation
A parish council in Telford has complained to the borough authority over perceived delays in the investigation of a massive recycling centre fire and the resulting smoke.
Greenway Polymers in Ketley has been burning for more than two weeks. Fire crews around the county have been working around the clock to monitor the ongoing blaze and deal with the resulting smoke.
Lawley and Overdale Parish Council has raised the issue of air quality monitoring.
A statement said: "The large fire at the Greenway Polymers (former Pink Skips) site in Ketley has caused significant issues with smoke and air quality for residents across the parish.
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"Following concerns raised by local residents, Lawley and Overdale Parish Council asked the following question of Telford & Wrekin Council: 'We have been contacted by a number of angry residents in Overdale regarding no information being made available about the air quality monitoring that has been undertaken by the Environment Agency and questions as to why did it take a week of toxic smoke/smells before they even looked at it?'"
The borough council responded to say: "Air quality has been a consideration from the beginning of this incident, the initial advice from the Environment Agency’s air quality cell, who are the experts in regards to air quality from incidents such as these, was that there was no requirement for monitoring to support a risk assessment due to the fact that monitoring would not affect the health advice given.
"The cell did advise that reassurance monitoring could be provided, as a result we have obtained equipment to monitor air quality from the Environment Agency as well as securing the services of a contractor to undertake monitoring across the wider area to provide reassurance monitoring. This information is reviewed by Public Health England on a daily basis and their initial findings are that the risks to health are low."
