Key Points
- Havering Council has been directed to monitor the “long term health impacts” of a rubbish dump at Arnolds Field in Launders Lane, Rainham, east London, which has caught fire more than 100 times since 2019.
- Local residents have reported health issues including stinging eyes and nasty coughs due to the fires.
- The council designated the land as contaminated in October last year following a lengthy legal battle led by campaign group Clean The Air in Havering.
- The council’s scrutiny committee this week proposed a proactive approach, including “plans to monitor and to detect long term health impacts” of the fires.
- Councillor David Taylor, a Conservative opposition councillor, urged the council to “start planning now” as health impacts might emerge in a decade.
- Council leader Ray Morgon of the Havering Residents Association (HRA) stated that “permanent” air quality monitoring measures are already in place and the council is “really focused” on residents’ health and wellbeing.
- Clean The Air in Havering, founded by three mothers, welcomed any action to reduce harm and stressed the need for clear communication and decisions based on “solid scientific and operational grounds”.
- Soil analysis in November 2023 revealed contaminants at Arnolds Field including asbestos, plastic bags, crisp packets, bricks, cans, polystyrene, and asphalt.
- Over its 20-year history, the site has also been used as an illegal weapons store and a cannabis farm.
Rainham (East London Times) February 2, 2026 – Havering Council faces calls to implement long-term health monitoring for residents affected by over 100 fires at a contaminated rubbish dump in Arnolds Field, Launders Lane, as scrutiny committee members push for proactive measures amid ongoing resident complaints of stinging eyes and coughs.
- Key Points
- What prompted the council’s new monitoring directive?
- Who is leading the call for immediate action?
- How has the council leadership responded?
- What is the history of Arnolds Field’s problems?
- Who are the campaigners driving change?
- Why have residents suffered health symptoms?
- What contaminants were found at the site?
- How does the site’s past use exacerbate risks?
- What next steps do experts recommend?
- Will this resolve resident concerns?
- Broader implications for east London?
What prompted the council’s new monitoring directive?
The scrutiny committee of Havering Council this week recommended that the authority adopt a more proactive stance on the perennial fires at Arnolds Field, explicitly calling for
“plans to monitor and to detect long term health impacts”.
This follows years of blazes since 2019, with locals enduring symptoms such as stinging eyes and nasty coughs, as reported extensively in local and national coverage. The site’s designation as contaminated land in October last year came after a protracted legal battle spearheaded by Clean The Air in Havering, marking a significant victory for campaigners.
As reported by BBC News journalists, the push for monitoring underscores concerns that immediate health effects may only be the precursor to graver issues emerging over time. The committee’s proposal aims to shift from reactive firefighting—literally and figuratively—to structured health surveillance, ensuring the council anticipates rather than reacts to potential public health crises.
Who is leading the call for immediate action?
Councillor David Taylor, a Conservative opposition councillor, emerged as a key voice in the scrutiny committee meeting, stating that
“while we might not be seeing health impacts immediately, they could be something that crop up in a decade or so”.
Taylor emphasised urgency, advising the council to “start planning now” rather than waiting for problems to manifest, a sentiment echoed in the committee’s formal proposals.
Taylor’s intervention highlights a cross-party concern, positioning health planning as a non-partisan priority amid the site’s troubled history. His comments, as covered by BBC News, reflect broader anxieties in Rainham about invisible, cumulative harms from repeated smoke exposure.
How has the council leadership responded?
Council leader Ray Morgon, representing the Havering Residents Association (HRA), countered with assurances of existing vigilance, noting that “permanent” measures to monitor air quality were already operational. Morgon added that the council was “really focused” on the health and wellbeing of residents, framing current efforts as robust despite calls for expansion.
As reported by BBC News, Morgon’s statements aim to reassure while acknowledging the scrutiny committee’s input, suggesting an evolving strategy that builds on established monitoring without admitting prior shortcomings. This response positions the HRA-led administration as proactive, though campaigners seek more tangible escalations.
What is the history of Arnolds Field’s problems?
Arnolds Field’s woes span two decades, evolving from an illegal weapons store and cannabis farm to a dumping ground plagued by fires. Soil analysis conducted in November 2023 uncovered a toxic cocktail including asbestos, plastic bags, crisp packets, bricks, cans, polystyrene, and asphalt, confirming long-suspected contamination.
BBC News detailed how these revelations followed resident activism, culminating in the October 2025 contaminated land designation after Clean The Air in Havering’s legal push. The site’s fire-prone nature—over 100 incidents since 2019—has turned it into a persistent hazard, with each blaze releasing plumes affecting nearby homes.
Who are the campaigners driving change?
Clean The Air in Havering, founded by three local mothers, has been instrumental, leading the legal battle that forced the contamination declaration. In a social media statement this week, the group declared: “Any action that has the potential to reduce the harm experienced by Rainham residents is encouraging.”
The campaigners further insisted on
“clear communication with residents”
and reassurance that health and safety decisions rest on
“solid scientific and operational grounds”.
As per BBC News reporting, their measured positivity signals cautious optimism, while underscoring the need for transparency in council actions.
Why have residents suffered health symptoms?
Local residents in Rainham have endured stinging eyes and nasty coughs, directly linked to the acrid smoke from Arnolds Field’s frequent fires. These acute effects, reported consistently since 2019, raise alarms about chronic exposure, prompting the scrutiny committee’s long-term monitoring advocacy.
BBC News highlighted how such symptoms, while not immediately life-threatening, erode quality of life and signal potential for respiratory and other issues over time. The council’s proposed plans aim to quantify these risks through systematic tracking.
What contaminants were found at the site?
November 2023 soil tests at Arnolds Field revealed asbestos—a known carcinogen—alongside everyday waste like plastic bags, crisp packets, bricks, cans, polystyrene, and asphalt. These findings, as detailed by BBC News, validate years of resident fears and justify the contaminated land status.
The diverse pollutants complicate remediation, as fires volatilise materials, spreading toxins via smoke. This underscores the scrutiny committee’s call for health impact plans beyond mere cleanup.
How does the site’s past use exacerbate risks?
Over 20 years, Arnolds Field served as an illegal weapons store and cannabis farm before becoming a fly-tipping magnet. BBC News reports that this criminal legacy likely contributed to initial contamination, with hazardous materials persisting in the soil.
Such history amplifies fire dangers, as unknown substances ignite unpredictably, heightening health threats for Rainham’s proximity. Campaigners note this backstory fuels demands for rigorous oversight.
What next steps do experts recommend?
The scrutiny committee’s proposals centre on establishing dedicated
“plans to monitor and to detect long term health impacts”,
potentially involving regular air sampling, resident health surveys, and epidemiological studies. Councillor Taylor’s decade-long horizon warns against complacency, aligning with public health best practices for environmental hazards.
Council leader Morgon’s “permanent” air quality measures provide a foundation, but expansion to longitudinal tracking is urged. Clean The Air in Havering stresses science-led decisions, implying collaboration with experts for credible protocols.
Will this resolve resident concerns?
While welcoming progress, Clean The Air in Havering caveats that true resolution demands “clear communication” and scientifically grounded actions. Residents’ immediate relief hinges on fire prevention alongside health monitoring, as past blazes show enforcement gaps.
BBC News coverage suggests the committee’s directive could catalyse fuller remediation, though implementation timelines remain fluid. Ongoing scrutiny ensures accountability, vital for rebuilding trust in Havering Council’s handling.
Broader implications for east London?
Arnolds Field exemplifies urban fly-tipping’s perils, mirroring issues in other east London boroughs where illegal dumps spark health scares. The council’s pivot to long-term monitoring sets a precedent, potentially influencing regional policies on contaminated sites.
As a microcosm of environmental justice, Rainham’s saga highlights grassroots power against official inertia, per BBC analysis. Success here could spu
