Following the Northamptonshire's County Council's failure to take appropriate steps to avoid toxic waste coming to Northamptonshire (as reported in a local newspaper recently)  Virodor have applied to build a very large waste reprocessing unit. Where? Grange Park. On top of the stinking tip which has just been covered over (literally) opposite the Collingtree Golf course.

What a terrific gateway to Northampton.

This tip still makes drivers throw up as they drive close by. Although the site is outside the Borough of Northampton, it is right on the edge and Collingtree residents are extremely concerned.

A public meeting is to be held at Collingtree Church rooms on Feb 27th.

Virodor have already made an application to move the huge methane flare....next to the Burmah petrol station - possibly not a good idea!

What sort of waste one wonders? Dioxins? Polychlorinatedbipheyls? Radioactive nuclides?

Webby visited the Burmah petrol station tonight to ask if they had any concerns? The only comment the assistant there at the time would make was: "Are they bloody stupid or what. That methane gas burner is enormous and I would consider it a significant safety hazard if they were granted permission to put it close to this petrol station. Think what could happen when the tankers fill our holding tanks? They must be mad."

Whilst still at the Burmah station, Webby was asked by another customer (who just happened to overhear our conversation) "What do you need to know about the old landfill site as I use to tip there for a few years"

The gentleman went on to explain how the landfill site was filled (household waste covered by a thin layer of soil then another huge layer of rubbish and so on) What I did find interesting was that he stated that as far as he was aware there was only roughly about 10 - 20 ft of soil placed on top of the whole landfill site to 'seal it'.
Then came the question that I never thought he would answer "Did you or are you aware of any toxic waster ever being tipped there?"

The gentleman replied that while he had never tipped toxic waste knowingly at the site, he was aware that other drivers had 'hidden' toxic waste at the bottom of large skips which had then had normal household rubbish or rubble etc placed on top of them to conceal the true contents of the skip.
"This was 'a big earner' for drivers willing to risk being caught, otherwise they would have to drive over to Corby to 'tip' toxic waste and it was very expensive to do so".

If what Webby was told is true (I have no reason to disbelieve him as he has told me how I can contact him most days and the fact that he had approached me), then this land is contaminated and should be dug up and examined in detail BEFORE any construction is permitted whatsoever.

This whole thing brings the splendid film Erin Brockovich to mind (a very brief outline of the film follows): { In a world where heroes are often in short supply, the story of Erin Brockovich is an inspirational reminder of the power of the human spirit. Her passion, tenacity and steadfast desire to fight for the rights of the underdog defied the odds…her victory made even more sweet by the fact that while helping others, she in turn helped herself.
Erin Brockovich is a stirring, funny and unconventional drama based on true events, starring two-time Academy Award* nominee Julia Roberts as the twice-divorced mother of three young children who sees an injustice, takes on the bad guy and wins.
With no money, no job and no prospects on the horizon, Erin Brockovich (Julia Roberts) is a woman in a tight spot. Following a car accident in which Erin is not at fault, she finds herself even worse off when her attorney fails to land her any kind of settlement. With nowhere else to turn, Erin pleads with her attorney Ed Masry (Albert Finney) to hire her at his law firm. It is there, while working, that Erin stumbles upon some medical records placed in real estate files. Confused, she begins to question the connection. She convinces Ed to allow her to investigate, where she discovers a cover-up involving contaminated water in a local community which is causing devastating illnesses among its residents.}

Now the residents of Collingtree and surrounding areas have a similar fight on their hands, the truth must be discovered and made public at whatever cost.

While we lived on Briar Hill 2 often there would be loud bangs at all times of the day and night and worried residents were mystified as to what was causing them. One evening there was a enormous explosion which not only bought numerous residents out of their homes and into the street looking for a fire caused by a gas explosion but found nothing, although the explosion did cause pictures to fall off walls!

Residents phoned the police to report this mysterious 'explosion' and the police contacted the RAF to see if it was caused by a low flying jet but that was not the case. The police told my wife that they had been inundated with phone calls about this 'explosion' by concerned residents all over Briar Hill.

The true cause of the explosion was only discovered after Webby had visited the petrol station on the ring road near to the Sixfields Stadium. The attendant told Webby that they often heard smaller explosions of methane gas from the old Weedon Road tip but this was by far the largest one she had heard.

The methane gas burner at that time was no where near as big as the one at Grange Park, it was merely a small diameter pipe with a small flame. The one I saw tonight at Grange Park was huge in comparison and the flame was burning fiercely (I shall obtain a decent photograph of it Monday for all to see).

Remember the public meeting at the Collingtree Church Rooms on the 27 February