Opposition councillors criticize Cheshire West Council for delays in investigating PCB contamination in Helsby and Alvanley, raising concerns about transparency.
Cheshire: Opposition councillors are upset about what they call ‘secrecy’ in a council investigation. They’re concerned about delays regarding alleged contamination in the area.
In July, Cheshire West and Chester’s Full Council voted to form a group to look into reports of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) contamination in Helsby and Alvanley.
PCBs are toxic chemicals that were used in many products before 1980. Recently, scientists found over 12,000 times the normal level of PCBs in one sample from Helsby.
All 58 councillors agreed to create a cross-party task group for this investigation. However, at a recent meeting, it was revealed that members were asked to sign confidentiality agreements.
Councillor Adrian Waddelove expressed disappointment, saying the council isn’t acting quickly enough. He noted that the council had promised a report within six months.
Councillor Chris Copeman, a member of the task group, mentioned attempts to get them to sign a non-disclosure agreement. He believes this limits public involvement and accountability.
Labour’s deputy council leader, Cllr Karen Shore, accused the Conservatives of politicizing the issue. She stated they want to ensure the investigation is thorough and correct.
Labour councillor Christine Warner assured that the council is committed to transparency. They are working on hiring technical experts for the task.
She also mentioned that there might be legal reasons for using non-disclosure agreements, but no agreements have been presented for signing yet.
