Families in Corby Demand Answers on Childhood Cancer Links

Families in Corby, Northamptonshire, are calling for answers regarding potential links between local toxic waste sites and rising childhood cancer cases. This movement gained momentum following the serious health struggles of children like Fraser Gaffney, who was diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia at just 17 months old in 2018. After enduring two years of intensive treatment, including chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, Fraser’s cancer went into remission. His mother, Alison Gaffney, began to question the causes of his illness.

Gaffney recalled the unsettling comments from hospital staff who expressed concern over how Fraser contracted cancer. “It keeps us up at night wondering how Fraser got his cancer,” the consultant had said. This concern is rooted in the knowledge that the closure of the steelworks in Corby in 1979 resulted in the improper disposal of millions of tonnes of contaminated waste. A civil case in 2009 found negligence on the part of the local council, linking the hazardous waste cleanup to numerous birth defects in local children during the 1980s and 1990s.

As Gaffney connected with other families facing similar challenges, a community began to form. Together, they now represent approximately 130 families advocating for a thorough investigation into the correlation between childhood cancer cases and past industrial practices. The group’s efforts are particularly urgent as public health officials are set to release an analysis at the end of this month assessing whether Corby has experienced a disproportionate number of childhood cancer cases among its population of 70,000 residents.

Gaffney emphasized the need for answers: “All we want is to try and protect future people so they do not have to endure the pain that we’ve been through.” The 2009 civil judgment noted that between 1983 and 1997, contaminated materials were transported from the steel plant to Deene Quarry, where extensive toxic waste was improperly handled, affecting public health.

Recent discussions with North Northamptonshire Council have offered a glimmer of hope. Following a meeting with Gaffney and her partner, Andy Hinde, council representatives acknowledged their lack of documentation regarding the locations of contaminated sites. “They said: ‘We don’t know where these sites are. We have no documentation,’” Gaffney reported. The council is now reviewing historical records to assess the potential for contamination beyond the known landfill site.

The community’s concerns resonate deeply, particularly among families like that of Tonia Shalgosky, whose nine-year-old daughter, Bella, was diagnosed with blood cancer earlier this year. “There are so many people in the town that have been diagnosed with childhood cancer, and I just feel it’s too much to ignore,” she stated.

Another voice in this growing movement is Meg Lyons, who lost her sister, Eve, to a rare bone cancer in 2017. Lyons underscored the urgency for transparency from local authorities, emphasizing that families deserve the truth regarding the environmental conditions that may have played a role in these health crises.

The campaign has also attracted whistleblowers who claim to have firsthand knowledge of the waste disposal practices in Corby. Among them is Gaffney’s father, who admitted to improperly dumping waste materials during his employment as a lorry driver. “He wasn’t even licensed to drive a lorry,” Gaffney said, recalling her father’s struggles during a time of widespread job loss in the area.

Legal representation for the families is being provided by Des Collins, the lawyer involved in the 2009 civil claim. He noted that only a statutory public inquiry could uncover the full extent of the environmental issues in Corby. “Environmental testing is a highly complex process,” Collins explained, stressing the need for rigorous oversight to ensure the integrity of the findings.

In a statement, Martin Griffiths, leader of North Northamptonshire Council, described the initial meeting with Gaffney and Hinde as a pivotal moment for collaboration. The council has committed to establishing a working group that will include community representatives to address public health and contamination concerns.

As the community awaits the forthcoming health analysis, Gaffney remains hopeful. “If anything, it just gives us that further fight,” she said. “We’ve got to find answers for these children.” The collective determination of the families in Corby reflects their commitment to uncovering the truth and protecting future generations from similar health challenges.