Earlsfield residents 'choking on smoke' feel 'left in dark' about Wimbledon waste plant fire

Nick Seymour, 70, in Earlsfield
-Credit: (Image: Charlotte Lillywhite)


South London residents still 'choking' on smoke days after a fire started at a waste plant claim they were left in the dark about the incident. Firefighters rushed to Reston Waste Management on Weir Road, Wimbledon, after a large pile of rubbish in a single-storey building caught alight on Saturday night (September 8).

London Fire Brigade (LFB) said around 40 firefighters were still tackling the 'complex' blaze on Wednesday (September 11), which produced large quantities of smoke. It added that although the fire was under control, it was still working to extinguish remaining hot spots. The direction of the wind meant the fumes were mainly blown across the Merton border into Earlsfield and other areas in Wandsworth, which forced several local schools to close.

Wandsworth Council said the smoke has now cleared, with the fire brigade providing 'necessary reassurance' that the blaze is unlikely to reignite. The latest tests show air quality in the area has returned to 'acceptable levels', it added, while wet waste at the plan will be cleared as soon as possible.

READ MORE: Shocked Richmond residents 'relieved nobody was killed' as buildings collapse into rubble

Smoke from fire at Reston Waste Management, Wimbledon
The fire at Reston Waste Management, Wimbledon, produced large quantities of smoke -Credit:Glyn Goodwin

But Earlsfield residents living near the plant told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) they had not been given sufficient information about the fumes by the council. Resident Glyn Goodwin, 64, who has asthma, described the 'lack of information' from the authority as 'disappointing'.

He said: "There’s a complete lack of air quality monitors around Earlsfield, so it’s that thing that there is no data, there’s no information coming out, so people simply don’t know. You can obviously smell it, feel it, choke on it, my clothes still stink of smoke."

He added: "As the dangers of air pollution have become ever clearer, you want to know about this stuff really. I’m feeling it - I’m being choked, I’ve noticed myself coughing."

Mr Goodwin claimed residents had previously complained about air quality near the site, and that children living on a Travellers' site nearby had 'terrible asthma'.

He added: "No one wants to evacuate their home, but you’re thinking, OK this has been going on for days, at what point should the council have actually stepped in? It’s days and days afterward, so you think they probably should have stepped in earlier."

The council previously said it was working 'at pace' to speak to schools, residents and the fire brigade to assess air quality and explore any precautions needed. It advised residents to stay up-to-date on the incident via its website and social media channels, along with following advice from the fire brigade.

Smoke from the fire at Reston Waste Management, Wimbledon
The wind blew the smoke across the Merton border into Wandsworth -Credit:Glyn Goodwin

Pauline, 80, who did not want to provide her surname, said she had not received any direct communication from the authority about the fire, which she learned about online. She said: "A lot of people don’t have phones, old people, they have no way of knowing what’s going on, where it’s coming from."

Pauline is waiting for radiotherapy after recently undergoing cancer surgery, which followed a stroke earlier this year. "I don't need all this smoke," she told the LDRS. "I couldn’t open the windows because it stifled you. Even this morning it was still stifling, and you can smell it now."

She added: "It’s been a disgrace because the nurses come, then you’ve got mothers with children taking them to school. It’s impacted the whole area."

Nick Seymour, 70, also said the council had failed to provide residents with enough information on the blaze. He told the LDRS: "They're normally good about those things but on this, absolutely nothing."

Mr Seymour raised concerns about the impact on residents' health as he revealed he had been waking up with headaches, although he could not be sure of their cause. He added: "I'm keeping windows closed at night and everything else. It hasn't been good. What can you do?"

Sherissa, 37, who did not want to provide her surname, said the council should have communicated better with residents. She told the LDRS: "They need to have more communication about what happened - what exactly caught on fire, what they were doing."

Sherissa described how her block was evacuated by the fire brigade on Saturday night as it filled with smoke. She said: "The fire brigade evacuated us from our rooms. It was really bad. A lot of people left the building. I talked to somebody just now when I came back today - a lot of people are upset, they don't feel like it's been taken seriously enough."

A Reston spokesperson confirmed to the LDRS that the fire is now under control. They said: "This follows an intensive effort by our own staff and the London Fire Brigade who worked around the clock to damp down and remove all the waste from the facility. We are extremely grateful for the tireless work and dedication both from our team and the London Fire Brigade.

"We apologise for any inconvenience to our neighbours caused by smoke from the fire. However, thankfully this has now dispersed. A full investigation into the cause of the incident will now follow, as we seek to understand how the fire started and any lessons that the industry may be able to learn from this event."

LFB station commander Justin Randtoul said: "We request that residents living in the surrounding area, which includes in the boroughs of Wandsworth and Merton, and particularly around the Garratt Lane area, continue to keep their windows and doors shut where possible.

“Our scientific advisor has been monitoring air quality in the area and we have been liaising with our multi-agency partners including Wandsworth Council, Merton Council and the Environment Agency. We know the fire has had a significant impact on local communities.

"Firefighters have been out in the local area speaking to residents and providing support and advice. They will also be available to carry out home fire safety visits."

Wandsworth Council advised schools can reopen tomorrow (Thursday, September 12) and that buildings should be kept ventilated. It has published information on the effects of exposure to smoke on its website. Anyone with concerns about the impact of smoke on their health is advised to call NHS 111.

A council spokesperson said: "People who are generally fit and well are unlikely to experience long-term health problems from temporary, low-level exposure to smoke. In general terms, residents who need to remain in areas affected by smoke for extended periods of time should stay indoors, keep their doors and windows closed as much as possible and limit the amount of time spent outdoors during day-to-day activities.

"Motorists who have to travel through the area should keep windows closed, turn off air conditioning and keep their air vents closed."

Have you been affected by this incident? Email charlotte.lillywhite@reachplc.com

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