Stockport Labour Group has called for answers about the health impacts of the fire at the Junction 25 Recycling Centre. Labour councillors have also requested detailed reports are produced for Council committees into how public organisations acted on concerns about the centre.
Residents will have seen the huge fire that started overnight on 20th August at the privately-run Junction 25 Recycling Centre. The site has been plagued by fires in the past and has also been responsible for the horrible smell in the area – something local Labour candidate for Bredbury and Woodley ward, Roy Driver, has been campaigning to solve for months.
Cllr David Sedgwick, Labour Vice-Chair of the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee, has called for a thorough investigation into whether any opportunities were missed by the Council, the Environment Agency or Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service which could have prevented the devastating fire. Cllr Sedgwick is calling for the report to be presented to the Scrutiny Committee as soon as possible.
Cllr Sedgwick said: “This huge fire is the fourth at the site since 2011. I want to know if anything could have been done to prevent this fire and whether opportunities were missed. We need to be sure that something like this can’t happen again.”
Cllr Tom McGee, Labour Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, has called for the Council’s Director of Public Health to report to the next meeting (10th September) on the health risks from the fire and resulting smoke plume that engulfed the area. Cllr McGee has also asked for a detailed report to be presented at a future meeting investigating the impact of the fire and smoke plume when more information has been collected.
Cllr McGee said: “The smoke plume from the fire was enormous and lots of people had to keep their windows and doors closed for days afterwards. We need to know what the impacts of the fire might be on the health of residents. Hopefully there won’t be any, but it is important that we investigate quickly.”
“I’ve been raising residents’ concerns about this site for a number of months, mainly due to the terrible smell coming from the site. I think there should be an investigation into what the Council and the Environment Agency have been doing to look at the problems and the fire risks at the site, particularly given the fact that this is the fourth fire at the site since 2011.
“The Council has an important public protection role, along with other organisations, and we need to know whether any opportunities were missed that could have prevented this from happening.
“I also want reassurances that the site is safe and the problems which have led to this fire have been addressed before it reopens.”
Roy will keep residents informed about any developments.