South Tyneside

 

Statement on the sacking of Peter Collins

The National Trust is not making public it's reasons for sacking Peter Collins, however we would be extremely concerned of someone has been sacked for trying to protect public health and the environment.

We don't know who leaked the Trow Quarry report to the Gazette but the person who was certainly acting in the public interest and deserves our thanks.  People who act out of conscience need to be protected.  Whoever leaked the report did a great service to the people of South Tyneside and those who use the National Trust property.

They have not only highlighted the risks to this specific site but helped raise general concerns about health risks from landfill sites - especially those facing coastal erosion.  We hope that local authorities learn lessons from this.

We are concerned that the mistakes of the past may be repeated at Marsden Quarry, where there are plans to create a new landfill site next to the coast.  How long will it be before South Tyneside Council has another Trow on it's hands?  This is an issue that has implications for the management of the whole of the British coastline.

Contact

email: stfoe@negg.org

Notes

1. South Tyneside FOE online: http://www.negg.org/stfoe/
2. FOE England, Northern Ireland & Wales: http://www.foe.co.uk/