Zane's law for safe homes

Seven year-old Zane Gbangbola died in the early hours of 8 February 2014, when the River Thames flooded at Chertsey in Surrey. The floodwater had brought hydrogen cyanide gas from a nearby contaminated landfill site into his home. Toxic waste that nobody had been told was there.

This week the Green Party is launching a campaign for a 'Zane’s Law', aimed at making toxic waste dumps safe, and on Monday, Green-led Lewes District Council became the first council in England to vote for it. 

There are at least 1,287 old landfill sites in England thought to contain hazardous materials, and many of these are known to be leaking highly toxic substances. With the ever-growing risk of extreme climate-related events, the danger of floodwater from these sites poisoning those who live near them is also rising – and the regulations around them are shockingly weak.

The Green Party has supported Zane’s parents in their struggle for truth and justice, Baroness Natalie Bennett has fought for stronger legislation in Parliament. You can sign a national petition and get involved with the campaign here.

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