'Absolute disgrace' - Blackpool North & Fleetwood MP Lorraine Beavers on PFOA ICI site cancer scandal
“I will not stop fighting because this whole thing is completely unfair.”
Blackpool North and Fleetwood MP Lorraine Beavers has described the PFOA situation in Thornton as an “absolute disgrace” as blood tests show two thirds of residents tested have ‘high levels’ of cancer-causing toxins in their systems.
“The PFOA situation in Thornton is an absolute disgrace,” said Lorraine Beavers, MP for Blackpool North and Fleetwood, on social media. “The blood tests are now out and the evidence is mounting that those responsible should be paying for the remediation.
“For the past 2 years, I have been working with AGC, Wyre Council, the Environment Agency, Leigh Day and the government to sort this out,” she added. “This work has happened in the background because AGC were still a significant employer and operating on the site which is the source of contamination but now they're leaving and the evidence is mounting for remediation.
“I will not stop fighting because this whole thing is completely unfair. I'll keep working to hold AGC and ICI responsible for what they have done to our community because tax payers should not be left footing the bill for making the land around you homes safe again.”
The Environment Agency (EA) previously confirmed three sites in Thornton were contaminated by the man-made chemical Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA). PFOA is known to accumulate in blood and can cause cancer, immune system disorders, as well as high, bad cholesterol.
The areas of concern include Hillylaid Pool - an effluent pit in the vicinity of the historic ICI Hillhouse site as well as Sandringham Avenue Allotments and Occupation Road Allotments. The EA which is leading the investigation into contaminated land, currently occupied by AGC Chemicals Europe.
Tests have shown that the chemical - often used to coat non-stick pans - was found in the soil of 71 properties surrounding the plant. Environmental law firm Leigh Day later instructed blood tests for 49 residents to see if their blood contained high levels of the toxic substance.
Mum-of-four Sam Linacre-Hammond, 48, bought an eighth-of-an-acre piece of land next door to her house - which sits around 400 metres from the former Thornton ICI plant - from Wyre Council in 2011. Sam has since revealed her blood contained 25 nanograms per millilitre (ng/ml) of blood which, according to Leigh Day puts her in the high-risk category.
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‘It’s not fair’
After blood tests revealed that two thirds of residents tested have ‘high levels’ of cancer-causing toxins, Lorraine Beavers shared a video shared to her social media in which she said: “Tests are out. It doesn't look too good. AGC have decided that 200 men that they've employed for a very long time are going on the dole. It’s not fair that you've got PFOA in your gardens.
“It's not fair that you've made your gardens beautiful. It’s an absolute disgrace. I will be there. I will be fighting for you. I will be fighting for this community, and we will be making AGC pay. This isn't the taxpayers' problem. This is their problem. They've made this mess.
“They need to clean it up.”