Council toxic waste defects payout

Corby Borough Council has agreed to pay compensation to birth defects children
12 April 2012

A council found negligent in its reclamation of an old steelworks site - blamed for causing birth defects - has agreed to pay compensation to the children affected.

In a landmark High Court ruling last July, Corby Borough Council was found negligent in its management of toxic waste at the former steelworks site in the town during the 1980s and 1990s.

The council had denied it was negligent and that there was a link between the removal of waste to a quarry north of the site and deformities affecting hands and feet.

But Mr Justice Akenhead found there was a "statistically significant" cluster of birth defects between 1989 and 1999.

The council had previously said it would fight the ruling, but today agreed to drop its challenge.

After talks this week, it said it had reached a final, binding agreement with 19 young people.

It will now pay compensation to each of the children, without accepting liability in the case, it announced today in a joint statement with the solicitors of the families involved.

The statement said the financial terms of settlement remain confidential and would require approval by the court in the case of the younger children.

Corby Borough Council chief executive Chris Mallender said: "The council recognises that it made mistakes in its clean-up of the former British Steel site years ago and extends its deepest sympathy to the children and their families."

Des Collins, solicitor for the families involved, said they were relieved the battle was over.

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