"Ray Morgon, leader of the council, said: "We are in talks with the landowner about putting a temporary solution in before next summer to stop the fires until he can implement a permanent solution, either through putting forward a planning application on developing the land, that should include solving the problem for good, or through some other means." The Havering Residents Association leader told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the council's approach with the polymer seal should "last long enough to cover time needed for the permanent solution by the landowner"."
"The council will fund the work the cost of which has not been made publicly available and has written to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry for Local Government, the Environment Agency and the Greater London Authority to help cover the costs. The council previously said any "substantial" works to stop the blazes could take between three and seven years to complete. "Whatever the outcome, we are moving as quickly as possible, so residents don't once again suffer," Mr Morgon said."
Arnolds Field in Launders Lane, known as the Rainham Volcano, was officially declared contaminated after a judicial review in October. The site has burned more than 100 times since 2019, producing potentially harmful smoke into nearby homes. Havering Council plans to spray likely ignition areas with a polymer seal to reduce oxygen reaching underground and slow the blazes, providing time for the landowner to propose a permanent fix or development. The council will fund the temporary work, has written to national and regional agencies for support, and expects contractor hiring decisions next month.
Read at www.bbc.com
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