CORBY CHILDHOOD CANCER – RESPONSE TO COUNCIL’S DATA

The Corby campaign group led by Alison Gaffney and Andy Hinde, supported by Des Collins, Senior Partner at Collins Solicitors, today comments on the report provided by North Northamptonshire Council, which seeks to deny the existence of unusual numbers of children with cancer in the area.
Alison and Andy from Great Oakley, Corby, are parents to Fraser (now aged 9) who was diagnosed with cancer aged 17 months, said:
“The council have been sitting on our request for data for 8 months, only now to produce something that looks like it has been manipulated to usefully undermine the community’s concerns.

“A small-scale look around Deene Quarry is not going to identify widespread problems that we know exist. Our own efforts have uncovered several other at risk areas which have not been examined by the Council, according to this report.

“We asked for cancer diagnoses data for 0–24-year-olds from the time of the reclamation to date, but today’s report doesn’t cover even half of this request, so is clearly not a true representation of the Corby childhood cancer cases that exist.

“Have the children and people of Corby not suffered enough? We’ve been patient and given the local authority plenty of time to come clean – but they have chosen not to do so. It is so disrespectful.

“We are fully united behind our solicitor, Des Collins’ call for a full public inquiry as the only way to get to the truth and we’ll do everything in our power to get one.

“Without seeing the full data sets, that the council has point blankly refused to share, this summary report is not worth the paper it is written on. For many in this town, the council’s response will feel far too familiar, just like when facing the first court case on this matter some twenty years ago. That didn’t end well for them then and just fuels the fight in us now.”

Des Collins, solicitor to the local families suffering health concerns in the area, said:
“Sadly, the Council’s analysis is fatally flawed. Put simply, if you choose to look in the wrong direction you won’t find the real answers.

“We have been asking the Council for months to confirm where all the toxic waste is buried and they’ve prevaricated and deflected throughout. The report they issued today treats Deene Quarry as the sole location of all contaminated waste, which we know not to be true. Taking cancer data from this area alone is wilful blindness at best.

“The strong and determined Corby community won’t be taken for fools. They know there’s a damaging health issue across the town (and possibly beyond) and recognise it is now likely to require a public inquiry to expose it.

“Frankly, the council’s obstinacy is a shocking dereliction of duty and cruelly dismissive of the valid concerns of people it is supposed to serve.”

ENDS

Parents living now, or previously, in the area, whose children have been diagnosed with cancer may wish to join the campaign: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3899966080265223

Bell Yard Communications: Louise Beeson: louise@bell-yard.com / Mob: 07768 956997