Suttons 'Serious' Incinerator Fire, 1 Year on

11th July the London Fire Brigade was called to attend to Viridor’s incinerator with around 25 firefighters fighting the blaze

This week Sutton holds its breath, as we hit the 1 year anniversary of the 'serious' fire at the incinerator. Despite calls from residents, we have remained in the dark about its cause, its impact on health or safety measures during a year of failure by authorities to take responsibility.

On the 11th July 2019, a Hackbridge local snapped a photo of a huge plume of black smoke billowing from the incinerator site. As news spread across social media, it took 25 firefighters and 4 engine crews from neighbouring boroughs 9 hours to get the fire under control. 

In an attempt to minimise the gravity of the fire and keep the public in the dark about it, Viridor's public relations company described the fire as 'small' in their press release, this was repeated slavishly by Sutton Council, while London Fire Brigade described it as 'serious'.

Fallout from the “small fire” (Image: London Fire Brigade)

When pressed on the issue that same day, A Liberal Democrat Councillor downplayed safety concerns, blaming lithium ion batteries as 'dangerous material being put in the wrong place' and a 'known industry problem'.

Residents battled to see an official compliance report stated that stated 'between 50 to 100 tonnes of waste was involved in the fire'. As the incinerator burns both household and industrial waste, Viridor and Sutton Councillors were surely aware of electronic equipment in the waste stream. Residents must assume that the fire would have released various chemicals, toxic dioxins, poisons and carcinogens such as arsenic, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, ammonia and micro particulates in the plume. 

Fire ravaged waste believed to have put out toxic fumes into the local area (source Environment Agency)

South London Waste Partnership (SLWP), responsible for the contract management includes two Sutton councillors, Cllr Abellan, Chair of the Environment Committee no less, and Cllr Ben Andrews who represents residents down wind from the fire.

There seems to be a lack of appetite among Sutton Liberal Democrats to ask difficult questions of their contractors and resolve the issue. When asked for help they appear to protect their contractor and refer residents to the Environment Agency.

What Happens Now?

Viridor promised in February to produce a final assessment report on the fire and as if by magic it has appeared. Unsurprisingly it absolves responsibility, full of lessons learnt and subjective explanations. This isn't over and locals fight for answers amid Council bureaucracy and disengaged Sutton Councillors.

Issues are ongoing with Viridor and Sutton Council, ranging from the planning application to remove access to the Beddington Farmlands and the punitively expensive district heating network SDEN. At the moment, residents are required to sit tight whilst a commercial entity and Council keep pressing pause on the issue.

Despite no answers being given, Sutton Insight and residents are calling for answers and can reveal more soon.