Letter: Questions about depot fire and the health of residents

Further, there are also more illnesses being diagnosed in Telford such as sarcoidosis which, despite being rare generally, are becoming far more common here.

We also hear of people, especially children, now suffering from breathing difficulties such as asthma at a more intensive rate. No reasons appear to be forthcoming from the authorities to identify possible causes.

I think that it is about time money was poured into looking for causes for these phenomena. Working at roof level in Donnington on the day in question, back in 1983, I was one of the first, if not the first, to spot the fire break through the roof in Donnington Depot and from then on was a grandstand witness to the progress of the fire and the clear indication that nothing could possibly be done to stop it.

The fact that the asbestos film that cloaked the steel roof cladding of the building was liberally distributed over a vast area of the borough is well documented, but my concern also is this: what about the materials that were stored in the building and what effect could their destruction and dispersal have had on the wellbeing of the people of Telford? I am aware that many, many tests were carried out on the soil from farms and industrial districts in the town after the event and never really heard anything about the results.

I also failed to hear of any reports about tests carried out at domestic premises, no doubt so as not to cause a panic, but my question is: Did that fire and the following one suffered at the same venue have anything to do with the severe health problems now being suffered by Telford people?

In my opinion what I have asked is a perfectly valid question and I for one would like some answers.

Adrian Williams

Bratton