North Northamptonshire Council and campaigners united on working together on historic land contamination issue
13 November 2025
North Northamptonshire Council has committed to work with campaigners in Corby towards a healthier future for everyone in the town.
At a meeting this week, senior leaders at the Council met with Alison Gaffney and Andy Hinde who are spearheading a group of residents with concerns over how waste from the former steelworks was buried as part of the regeneration of town in the 1980s.
At the meeting it was agreed to set up a working group, which will include Alison Gaffney, to examine public health and contamination issues in Corby.
The Council also agreed to – as part of this working group – review all of the data it has regarding contamination and explore what opportunities there are available for investigating where waste could potentially have been disposed of.
The leadership of the Council have taken the campaigners’ concerns seriously and are committed to full transparency over this historic issue.
The Council recognises the strength of feeling among Corby residents, who have long been concerned by incidences of childhood cancers and other health complaints in the town.
Senior council officers and I met with Alison and Andy this week to discuss their ongoing concerns around contaminated land in Corby. Everyone at the meeting agreed it marked the start of the parties’ commitment to work together in an open, positive and constructive way for the benefit of Corby residents.Cllr Martin Griffiths, Leader of North Northamptonshire Council
We welcome the promises of transparency made by Council Leader Martin Griffiths, Chief Executive Adele Wylie, Executive Director of Place and Economy George Candler and Director of Public Health and Wellbeing for NNC Jane Bethea at our meeting. We are encouraged by their pledge to listen and learn from our experiences in an effort to get to the bottom of this troubling issue.Alison Gaffney and Andy Hinde, residents
Their attitude demonstrates a major step forward for both residents and the Council. It is a significant show of unity and commitment. In this spirit, we look forward to working with them on the steps required to identify all sites of concern and to ensure appropriate testing takes place and the results are made public. After all, it is in all our interests that current residents and future generations are kept safe. The Council’s commitment will be of great relief and reassurance to us all.