Hackney backs calls for action on contaminated land
Why we're supporting Zane's Law
Mayor Caroline Woodley and Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Transport, Sarah Young have urged ministers to bring forward legislation to help local authorities deal with contaminated land.
Together with the London Assembly and other London councils, including Newham and Barking and Dagenham, they have outlined their support for Zane's Law – a bill proposed by the parents of Zane Gbangbola who died after flood water which had passed through contaminated land enabled hydrogen cyanide gas to enter their home with tragic consequences.
The letter to Rt Hon Emma Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, states:
“Zane’s Law, a bill proposed by Zane’s parents, will ensure greater transparency over contaminated land, by reinstating legislative provisions removed by successive governments from the 1990 Environment Protection Act, and recognising the Human Right to a Healthy Environment, approved by the UN General Assembly in 2022.
“In Hackney, a borough with a historical legacy of contaminated land, we’re working to protect residents through our Contaminated Land Strategy (2022); working for a safer Hackney and protecting people’s health, water resources and the environment. Whilst we are committed to this work in-borough, we recognise that we can’t achieve this alone and more needs to be done at a national level to prevent tragic cases like Zane’s reoccurring.
“Along with several other Councils, the Mayor of London and numerous MPs, Hackney Council is calling for existing legislation to be reviewed and updated to take account of increasing risks. We urge the Government to work collaboratively with campaigners to propose legislation to establish the principles set out in Zane’s Law. Crucially, legislation must include provisions for full net cost recovery and sufficient funding for local authorities to manage contaminated land.”