I hadn’t realised how much pollution has occurred in Thanet until I looked at the pollution maps (previous post) and I would like to know about other incidents and people that have been effected.
Obviously I have been discussing local pollution issues with our politicians and Steve Ladyman mentioned one earlier today, he said.
You might want to investigate historic pollution of the site at Westwood were McDonalds is now. I have had reports in the past of chemical tanks on that site associated with old engineering works that were cleaned by workers who suffered chronic health conditions thereafter. I was never able to get proof but you may dig some thing up as when I heard about it many years ago we didn’t have a ‘blogsphere’ that could jog peoples memories and other than the recollections of a couple of workers from the site (one of whom had become very ill with symptoms that could possibly have been caused by chemicals but equally could have been caused by something else) I got no further.
News, Local history and Thanet issues from Michael's Bookshop in Ramsgate see www.michaelsbookshop.com I publish over 200 books about the history of this area click here to look at them.
Michael, that must be the old GEC site. The site was decomtaminated of PCB's.
ReplyDeleteIt was certainly PCB poisoning that the gentleman reported to me as being responsible for his condition. He just couldn't prove a causal relationship and I couldn't find other witnesses at the time. If anyone else has memories of the site I'd be very interested.
ReplyDeleteThe personnel manager was a Mr Cannon Steve.
ReplyDeleteThe machine shop foreman was Albert Bennett who I think became a Thanet magistrate.
It was like Petbow, I think, an electrical engineering firm with no representation from electrical trades unions but the Boilermakers were the union.
They had stopped having a machine tool maintenance dept in early 70s I think as a cost saving measure.
And yes Tony yer ole mate "Slugger" worked there till he moved to pastures new ....
There was a machinist David Morgan
Another fabrication shop man "John" went on to work in the Alternator factory at Petbow.
Hope this is helpful Dr Ladyman.
Now re Thor Michael I will email you some links but post one copy report here for your greater delectation I thank you:
COPY
'Guilty' plea brings Thor trial to an abrupt end
27 February 1995 00:00 [Source: ICB]
THE TRIAL of mercury products company Thor Chemicals came to a dramatic end last week when charges of culpable homicide against the company and three of its executives were suddenly dropped after the company changed its plea to guilty on 12 safety charges and was fined a total of Rand13 500($3800). The maximum fine would have been Rand24 000.
The company, a South African subsidiary of a UK-based firm, had been accused of responsibility for one of its workers, Peter Cele, dying of mercury poisoning. A previous charge of culpable homicide relating to a second worker, Thulumuzi Frank Shange, was dropped. Thor says it has no idea why the men became ill. Earlier this month, a second Thor worker, Engelbrecht Ngcobo, died after being in a coma since 1992.
The sudden decision has increased suspicions in some quarters that there could be a link between the state prosecution's actions and the mysterious deaths of Thor director Alan Kidger and South African chemical engineer Wynand van Wyk (ECN 18 July 1994). Kidger was battered to death three years ago and his body dismembered, covered with red mercury and found in the boot of his car. Van Wyk was murdered in similar fashion in 1993. Local investigators believed there could be a link with the supply of chemicals for use in weapons to Arab countries during the Iraqi conflict but the company claims Kidger's murder was linked to acts of sabotage.
Last September, pathologist Robert Brook changed his post-mortem evidence on Cele from stating 'evidence of massive mercury accumulation' to saying the levels of mercury in his body were 'within the normal limit' (ECN 3 October 1994).
Magistrate Fred Heuer dropped the more serious charges, saying 'a direct link could not conclusively be proved between mercury contamination and their eventual cause of death'.
The outcome has brought a flood of protests from political parties, trade unions and environmental groups. Chemical Workers Industrial Union general secretary Muzi Buthelezi described the sentence as 'a mockery of justice'.
Observers are surprised at the sudden end to the trial because it was recently adjourned to allow the state to bring in a Swedish mercury expert to testify on its behalf. Buthelezi criticised the fact that the expert was never called, saying 'the magistrate had a moral obligation to wait for the expert evidence on mercury poisoning before passing sentence. We are shocked the magistrate chose to ignore the seriousness of the offences.'
Democratic Party environment spokesman, senator Erol Moorcroft said: 'We deplore the apparent lack of concern on the part of the judiciary.'
A forensic pathologist said the results of the post-mortem on Ngcobo will be known in four to six weeks once tissue analyses were received.
The families of former Thor workers alleged to be victims of mercury poisoning are considering private prosecutions against the company.
Meanwhile, a hearing will be heard in the next few months in London, UK, to decide if a similar case can go ahead against Thor Chemicals UK, its chairman Desmond Cowley and Thor Chemicals Holdings. Thor claims the UK courts have no jurisdiction over events in South Africa.
COPY ENDS
Oh yes I think some of the workers transferred to GEC Stafford Steve.
ReplyDeleteIf your constituent went on to work for Petbow Cummins after GEC closed then suspect tetrachlorethylene if there are kidney problems. That seemed pretty prevalent in the workforce there. (Even one apprentice had to break apprenticeship off with kidney disease I think)
You could check it out through GMBU who had a trained solvent safety shop steward on site.
(What do you reckon Tony ? Steve should find that enlightening eh)
It would be Dr Ladyman making inquiries of that union in Thanet 12 years after he first refused my request to do so !
I am told there was Viking Industrial Plastics followed by a rubber (Duraplug or something like that) next to GEC and then approaching Westwood Lyons Freezer depot.
ReplyDeleteMichael, there is an old MOD sewer that runs from Manston towards Garlinge and the above ground breathers can be seen in the fields N of Woodchurch Rd (past Reclamet). Rumour has it that this sewer is not intact and is leaking into the ground. Is this true?
ReplyDelete