Corby Town Council 'seeks clarity' on metals in water as motion calls for action as 'matter of urgency'
Corby Town Council (CTC) has issued a statement in advance of a full council meeting at which a motion urging actions on water quality in the town’s watercourses will be proposed.
Following the publication of Earthwatch Europe’s report ‘Investigating freshwater metal pollution in Corby’, Cllr William Colquhoun, who chairs the town council’s environment committee, said they are ‘matters we take very seriously’.
A motion by Oakley ward Liberal Democrat councillors Chris Stanbra and Ceilidh Devine will call for Corby Town Council to press authorities to further testing takes place as a matter of urgency.
Some of the volunteers were among parents who believe there is an ongoing risk to the public posed by the botched clean-up of the steelworks and existing ground contamination, and who will attend tonight’s meeting.
Cllr Colquhoun (Lab) said: “Members of the public raised this testing and other environmental concerns locally at a committee meeting on January 19 – these are matters we take very seriously.
"As a town council we are not interested in political point scoring. Our focus is on ensuring residents have clear information and that responsible authorities fulfil their duties. We will support and, where necessary, hold to account those with statutory responsibility for environmental matters in our town.”
A statement issued by CTC said the council had written to North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) and the Environment Agency after a day of watercourse sampling undertaken in Corby by the independent organisation Earthwatch, supported by local volunteers.
A CTC spokesman said: “The sampling event and subsequent presentation of results were organised without advance notice to Corby Town Council, with councillors only made aware after the testing had taken place. A follow-up meeting to present the results was held in the neighbouring parish of Weldon.
“The town council has stressed the importance of constructive partnership working and transparency and has requested that Corby representatives are included in future environmental projects and discussions relating to the town.”
Testing across freshwater sites found two pollution ‘hotspots’ and the Earthwatch Europe said more testing would be needed to build a more complete picture of the potential contaminants entering Corby's freshwater environment – potentially harmful to aquatic life.
As well as commending volunteers and professionals involved in the testing, Cllrs Stanbra and Devine’s motion states: "This council supports the call for further testing and agrees that the people of Corby deserve answers to the questions that many of them are raising.
“This council therefore resolves to work with all those involved in seeking those answers, urges North Northamptonshire Council to engage fully and openly with local people campaigning on this issue and to provide them with answers to the questions they are asking, calls upon all organisations with responsibility for the management and safety of contaminated waste sites associated with the clearance of the steelworks site to work together to ensure that the required further testing takes place as a matter of urgency.”
The Leader of Corby Town Council, Cllr Simon Rielly,(Lab) has now written to both NNC and the Environment Agency, requesting confirmation of whether the Earthwatch report has been received and reviewed, clarification on the environmental and public health implications of the findings, guidance on what actions may be required should levels of metals or other substances be confirmed as a concern, and support and coordination for a second round of sampling.