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'Toxic Town' solicitor calls for full apology

Justin Dealey & Helen Burchell
BBC News, Northamptonshire
PA Media A black and white picture shows three large cylindrical constructions against a foreground of houses and some treesPA Media
The iron and steelworks in Corby, photographed shortly before their closure in 1980, was a major employer in the town

A solicitor who represented families affected by a town's toxic waste scandal has called for a public inquiry and a "full apology".

Years after Corby's steelworks were closed in 1980, mothers living near a reclamation site gave birth to children with upper limb deformities.

Solicitor Des Collins, from Watford, began conducting his own investigation, revealing birth defects in Corby were three times higher than in the surrounding area.

A Netflix drama based on the Northamptonshire town's toxic waste scandal is now available to stream and Mr Collins said it was time for affected families to receive a full explanation.

Des Collins is looking at the camera. He is wearing a blue and white striped open-necked shirt. He has fair hair and a moustache
Des Collins, the solicitor who took on the case, wants a full apology

Toxic Town depicts the real-life battle of families in Corby whose children were born with defects in what Netflix described as "one of the UK's biggest environmental scandals".

Netflix/PA Images A still image from the Toxic Town television series. A woman in a red tracksuit top and jeans holds a can of lager in one hand while holding the hand of another woman while sitting on a park bench. The other woman wears a brown jacket and jeans and is also holding a can of drink on her lap.Netflix/PA Images
Jodie Whittaker (left) and Aimee Lou Wood star in Toxic Town, based on the Corby toxic waste scandal

Speaking to the BBC's Justin Dealey, in light of the new production, Mr Collins said: "Back in the day... we tried on a number of occasions to get a public inquiry into this issue and it was always rejected.

"I think there will be calls again for a public inquiry because a lot of the story has come out - a lot of it hasn't come out - and the bit that hasn't come out is important because of the learning process."

Mr Collins, who is portrayed in the Netflix production by actor Rory Kinnear, said he would be prepared to support the families as he had previously done.

"This needs to be brought before the public in a more complete way, and I'm not criticising the Netflix production at all, but I think it really does require - in the light of this - that there should be further examination of the issues," he said.

He added: "A full apology would represent a huge amount [to the families]."

The local authority no longer exists, having been replaced by the North Northamptonshire unitary council in April 2021.

The case remains a landmark ruling in environmental justice.

BBC Radio Northampton has produced an eight-part documentary series called In Detail: The Toxic Waste Scandal, which will be available for download on 4 March.

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