Latest news with #LeeBarron
ITV News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Lawyer who represented families in toxic waste scandal calls for public inquiry
The lawyer representing the families in the Corby toxic waste scandal is joining MPs in Corby and Kettering in their calls for a public inquiry into what happened. The scandal involved a series of birth defects in children born to mothers living near the former steelworks in Corby. Following the closure of the steelworks in the 1980s, the area was redeveloped and millions of tonnes of toxic waste were moved, often in open lorries. Now the town's two labour MPs Lee Barron who represents Corby and Rosie Wrighting, who is the MP for Kettering are backing the call for a government inquiry. Des Collins, senior partner at Collins Solictors, is the lawyer who represented the families in the 2009 high court case. He along with Lee Barron MP and Rosie Wrighting MP have sent a letter to North Northamptonshire council demanding they reveal where they got rid of the waste. 'Tell us where this stuff is buried' Des said: "We think the majority of the waste was put into landfill, the suggestion being made at the moment is they didn't know to bury the waste properly. "We are going to ask the council against the background of the 2009 judgement to tell us exactly where this stuff is buried and if they don't know, why they don't know. 'I think Corby has been badly let down' "There should be a public inquiry into Corby because that's something we believed should be addressed by government, because it doesn't stand up to scrutiny that they know stuff was moved and moved badly. "The way to sort this out is for the council to say this is how it's buried, this is where it's buried, this is testing we have done to show that there is nothing wrong here but this is not what they are doing." What did the high court case find? The case which involved 18 families, conclusively showed that the birth defects seen in children and babies living in the town was because of airborne waste. It also found that Corby Borough Council did not dispose of the waste correctly and that they were negligent in managing it. It also established that the material had been in the ground and that the waste could cause embryonic birth defects. Toxic Town The scandal has been brought more into public attention through the Netflix show Toxic Town which tells the stories of a group of mothers who joined together to fight for justice. The drama centres around three of the mothers at the centre of the scandal who fought for justice after their children were born with birth defects. Most of the children were born with missing fingers or toes - a phenomenon referred to at the time as "Corby Hand" - and some of the babies died. Des said: "Around 30 or 40 families have come to us since Toxic Town with concerns about birth defects such as leukaemia."
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MP opposes warehouse scheme in open letter
An MP has shared an open letter opposing a warehousing scheme and urged local planners to "closely consider residents' voices". North Northamptonshire Council's planning committee is due to discuss an application for a 148-acre (60-hectare) site on greenfield land, north of Halden's Parkway Industrial Estate in Thrapston. Lee Barron, the MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire, said IM Properties Developments Ltd's application "fails to consider the impact this proposal will have on our communities". IM Properties said Mr Barron's letter was addressed to councillors and it would not be appropriate for it to comment on the planning process. In a report to the council's planning committee, council officers recommended the scheme for approval, subject to conditions including "the requirements of habitats regulations", as it would reduce nesting sites for birds. The report stated that 722 full-time jobs would be created under the plans, and the application "responds to strong market demand in the logistics sector". It added that more than 2,000 jobs could be expected "through direct, indirect and construction employment". The proposed site is close to the site of another warehousing scheme on Castle Manor Farm, to the east of the industrial estate, which is set to go before a planning inquiry on 22 July. In his letter, Barron said: "I would like to let residents know again that whilst I have no role in approving or rejecting this proposal, I stand against the plans." Barron said that the area "already faces challenges of road traffic and heavy goods vehicles breaching weight restrictions". Stantec, which was named in the council report as acting as the agent for the proposal, has also been approached for comment. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Warehouse plan to go before council despite appeal Warehouse plans to go to government inquiry stage Campaigners oppose warehouses for rural areas North Northamptonshire Council Planning Inspectorate
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MP opposes warehouse scheme in open letter
An MP has shared an open letter opposing a warehousing scheme and urged local planners to "closely consider residents' voices". North Northamptonshire Council's planning committee is due to discuss an application for a 148-acre (60-hectare) site on greenfield land, north of Halden's Parkway Industrial Estate in Thrapston. Lee Barron, the MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire, said IM Properties Developments Ltd's application "fails to consider the impact this proposal will have on our communities". IM Properties said Mr Barron's letter was addressed to councillors and it would not be appropriate for it to comment on the planning process. In a report to the council's planning committee, council officers recommended the scheme for approval, subject to conditions including "the requirements of habitats regulations", as it would reduce nesting sites for birds. The report stated that 722 full-time jobs would be created under the plans, and the application "responds to strong market demand in the logistics sector". It added that more than 2,000 jobs could be expected "through direct, indirect and construction employment". The proposed site is close to the site of another warehousing scheme on Castle Manor Farm, to the east of the industrial estate, which is set to go before a planning inquiry on 22 July. In his letter, Barron said: "I would like to let residents know again that whilst I have no role in approving or rejecting this proposal, I stand against the plans." Barron said that the area "already faces challenges of road traffic and heavy goods vehicles breaching weight restrictions". Stantec, which was named in the council report as acting as the agent for the proposal, has also been approached for comment. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Warehouse plan to go before council despite appeal Warehouse plans to go to government inquiry stage Campaigners oppose warehouses for rural areas North Northamptonshire Council Planning Inspectorate
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Corby MP Lee Barron opposes warehouse scheme in open letter
An MP has shared an open letter opposing a warehousing scheme and urged local planners to "closely consider residents' voices".North Northamptonshire Council's planning committee is due to discuss an application for a 148-acre (60-hectare) site on greenfield land, north of Halden's Parkway Industrial Estate in Barron, the MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire, said IM Properties Developments Ltd's application "fails to consider the impact this proposal will have on our communities".IM Properties said Mr Barron's letter was addressed to councillors and it would not be appropriate for it to comment on the planning process. In a report to the council's planning committee, council officers recommended the scheme for approval, subject to conditions including "the requirements of habitats regulations", as it would reduce nesting sites for report stated that 722 full-time jobs would be created under the plans, and the application "responds to strong market demand in the logistics sector". It added that more than 2,000 jobs could be expected "through direct, indirect and construction employment".The proposed site is close to the site of another warehousing scheme on Castle Manor Farm, to the east of the industrial estate, which is set to go before a planning inquiry on 22 July. In his letter, Barron said: "I would like to let residents know again that whilst I have no role in approving or rejecting this proposal, I stand against the plans."Barron said that the area "already faces challenges of road traffic and heavy goods vehicles breaching weight restrictions".Stantec, which was named in the council report as acting as the agent for the proposal, has also been approached for comment. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Brigstock pupils call on government for solar panels at school
An appeal by pupils to have solar panels installed at their school has been mentioned during a Parliamentary 5 students at Brigstock Latham's Primary School wrote to Lee Barron, the Labour MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire, who brought their comments to a House of Commons debate on rooftop solar power on Tuesday. Barron said the pupils told him having solar panels would allow their school to cut their carbon footprint, reduce bills and help improve their education, with one pupil writing "we may be a small school, but we can be big sometimes".The pupils were congratulated "on their incredible spirit" by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. "Young people right across the country care about these issues," he said. "Also, they are pointing out something really important, which is that we have this free resource of the sun and we should use it. "That is why putting solar panels on schools and elsewhere is big project for Great British Energy."In March, the government announced hundreds of schools and hospitals would receive £180m for solar panels from the new state-owned energy company. Brigstock Latham's said it was "so proud of our eco-activists" and explained the children had heard about funding for other schools to get solar panels and "they felt it was unfair that we didn't get any funding".The school, in the village of Brigstock, which has about 15 children in each of its year groups, said solar panels would help it to become more sustainable and save said its pupils were "courageous advocates for green energy and wanting to look after our planet". Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
