Calls for government action on chemical pollution
Bicester and Woodstock MP Calum Miller has also reiterated his request in parliament for residents to meet with the Environment and Health Secretaries.
It comes weeks after Sir Keir Starmer said he would "make sure" that the "appropriate steps are taken" to tackle the contamination, in response to a question from Miller during PMQs.
Sir Keir also said a meeting would take place between residents and the relevant government ministers.
Earlier this week, the BBC revealed that historic Ministry of Defence documents described 'firefighting chemicals' being washed down the drain at the RAF site.
PFAS - which can take thousands of years to break down - were used in firefighting foams, with some since being banned in England and Wales due to their potential carcinogenic risks.
These are now feared to be the source of chemical pollution in nearby waterways.
The Environment Agency (EA) previously stated there was a risk of contamination at the site from historic fire fighting activities.
Concerns were first raised by residents in April after previous water data came to light and showed high levels of the chemicals 4km (2.5 miles) downstream.
Since then, site owner Dorchester Living - which is looking to build 9,000 new homes at the former RAF base - admitted it had not tested for the chemicals.
It said earlier this month that PFAS "has only more recently emerged as a focus for investigation and was not historically included within the suite of substances routinely tested for."
Read the full story at BBC ↗
Residents near a former RAF site in Bicester and Woodstock have raised concerns about chemical pollution following the discovery of PFAS residues in nearby waterways. The chemicals originated from firefighting foams used historically at the base. MP Calum Miller has requested a meeting between residents and government ministers to address the contamination. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has committed to ensuring appropriate action is taken. The Environment Agency previously identified a contamination risk from historic firefighting activities at the site. Site owner Dorchester Living, which plans to develop 9,000 homes at the location, stated it had not routinely tested for PFAS until the issue emerged.
Read the full story at BBC ↗
Bicester and Woodstock MP Calum Miller has also reiterated his request in parliament for residents to meet with the Environment and Health Secretaries.
It comes weeks after Sir Keir Starmer said he would "make sure" that the "appropriate steps are taken" to tackle the contamination, in response to a question from Miller during PMQs.
Sir Keir also said a meeting would take place between residents and the relevant government ministers.
Earlier this week, the BBC revealed that historic Ministry of Defence documents described 'firefighting chemicals' being washed down the drain at the RAF site.
PFAS - which can take thousands of years to break down - were used in firefighting foams, with some since being banned in England and Wales due to their potential carcinogenic risks.
These are now feared to be the source of chemical pollution in nearby waterways.
The Environment Agency (EA) previously stated there was a risk of contamination at the site from historic fire fighting activities.
Concerns were first raised by residents in April after previous water data came to light and showed high levels of the chemicals 4km (2.5 miles) downstream.
Since then, site owner Dorchester Living - which is looking to build 9,000 new homes at the former RAF base - admitted it had not tested for the chemicals.
It said earlier this month that PFAS "has only more recently emerged as a focus for investigation and was not historically included within the suite of substances routinely tested for."
Read the full story at BBC ↗
MP Calum Miller has reiterated his request in parliament for residents to meet with the Environment and Health Secretaries Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would ensure appropriate steps are taken to tackle the contamination and that a meeting would take place between residents and relevant ministers Historic Ministry of Defence documents describe firefighting chemicals being washed down the drain at the RAF site PFAS chemicals can take thousands of years to break down and have been banned in England and Wales due to potential carcinogenic risks High levels of PFAS were detected 2.5 miles downstream from the site in water data revealed in April Site owner Dorchester Living admitted it had not tested for PFAS, stating the chemicals only recently emerged as a focus for investigation
Read the full story at BBC ↗
- MP Calum Miller is requesting a parliamentary meeting between residents and government Environment and Health Secretaries over chemical pollution near a former RAF base
- Historic Ministry of Defence documents reveal firefighting chemicals containing PFAS were disposed of at the site; PFAS breaks down over thousands of years and carries potential carcinogenic risks
- High PFAS levels were detected 2.5 miles downstream in April; site developer Dorchester Living acknowledged it had not tested for these chemicals until recently
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer committed to ensuring appropriate steps are taken and that residents meet with relevant ministers