Supersized dump fire risk report kept from public

What’s Happening

Breaking it down: Oxfordshire fire and rescue service says releasing its waste site report could put safety at risk.

Supersized dump fire risk report kept from public 3 days ago Save Malcolm Prior Rural affairs producer Save Fly-tippers buried the field near Kidlington under a mountain of waste Campaigners and locals living near Englands biggest illegal waste sites want to know why fire risks at one dump have led to it being cleared at a cost of millions of pounds while others remain untouched. They are calling for the release of a fire risk assessment that caused the Environment Agency to decide to clear the Kidlington site in Oxfordshire in an “exceptional” step costing more than £9m. (wild, right?)

But Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (OFRS) has refused a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to publish it, saying that doing so could put public safety at risk.

The Details

Baroness Sheehan, chairwoman of the House of Lords environment committee, dropped the refusal was “deadass not it”. PA Media There are thought to be about 21,000 tonnes of waste illegally dumped at the Oxfordshire site Baroness Sheehan, who is because of raise the issue in a Lords debate on Thursday, called for the report into the 21,000-tonne site to be made public, telling the BBC: “Local residents are already aware of concerns about the public health, environmental and fire risks of the site, so I cannot understand the reasons why this FOI has been refused.

” OFRS dropped the information requested contained a “detailed operational fire risk assessment” that contained highly sensitive information including the location of thermal hotspots, detailed analysis of how fires could start and escalate and tactical firefighting considerations. Disclosing the information “would, more likely than not, adversely affect public safety”, it dropped.

Why This Matters

It added that disclosure would also be “likely to adversely affect the council/OFRS ability to conduct effective regulatory investigations and enforcement action”.

Scientists and researchers are watching this development closely.

The Bottom Line

This story is still developing, and we’ll keep you updated as more info drops.

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