Parkwood Landfill - Bad for your health?

 by Mark Lankshear

After many months of campaigning the North Sheffield Primary Care Trust (PCT) has agreed to carry out a ‘Health Impact Assessment’ of Parkwood Landfill site. Andy Buck, Chief Exec of the PCT chaired a packed and lively meeting at Southey Community Centre and explained that the PCT was now responsible for the ‘Public Health’ in North Sheffield. 

Many voiced fears about health problems, the unpleasant smells and the stress and fear of living near the site.The PCT will set up a steering group of community members, health professionals, outside poisons experts and representatives of the Parkwood Group who run the site. The group will run a study looking at the site and it’s effects on the health of local residents and will report next spring.

Meanwhile a Council report into the site is expected soon and campaigners are calling for them to set an end date for the site’s planning permission. There were angry calls for the PCT to recommend the site’s closure now as the uncertainty and fear was damaging peoples quality of life. Andy Buck explained the PCT had to wait for it’s own report before it’s recommendations would be taken seriously. 

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