Residents' fear as waste fires create 'toxic zone'

Black smoke smoke over Huyton after recycling centre fire

Residents who say they are living in a "toxic zone" are fearful for their health after plumes of black smoke have invaded their homes.

For much of last week, the sky above Kirkby in Merseyside, was filled with burning debris and a thick black smoke which could be seen for miles around.

Two large-scale fires erupted on two different industrial estates in and around Knowsley, beginning with an incident on Saturday 29 June.

Knowsley Council said it had "shared significant concerns with relevant bodies - including the Environment Agency - regarding the safety and management of both of the sites".

The fires are the latest in a series of environmental incidents which is causing distress for local residents, who say they are fearful of the potential health implications.

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service were called to Pingwood Lane in Kirkby on 29 June where they found seven articulated lorries on fire.

Three days later, emergency services were called to the scene of an industrial fire at a recycling centre on Wilson Road in Huyton.

'Toxic zone'

The Local Democracy Reporting Service writes that as a result of both incidents, plumes of black smoke and a toxic smell plagued thousands of people across Knowsley, and parts of Lancashire, for days - with people warned to keep windows and doors shut.

The fires are part of a wider environmental concern as residents have lodged complaints for over a year about foul smells from industrial sites just outside Kirkby.

Neil Dunne, who organised a residents' meeting, said: "It feels like we are living in a toxic zone where our health is being put at risk.

"The black smoke just raised the same alarms over local pollution fears. Pollution levels in Kirkby are very worrying and lung health in Kirkby is generally poor.

"This creates more problems as people get older."

A Knowsley Council spokesman said: “Prior to the incidents this week, we have shared significant concerns with relevant bodies including the Environment Agency regarding the safety and management of both of the sites where the fires have taken place.

"For some time we have had concerns over how (the industrial estates) are being managed. And specifically the negative environmental impact this is having on our residents in Kirkby – which is just adjacent to these sites.

"In terms of the Wilson Road site we have been concerned about the volumes of waste being stored and have raised these concerns with the Environment Agency who regulate the site and are able to take enforcement action."