The Ministry of Defence, legal experts and public health officials were this week taking stock of an inquest finding which ruled there was a link between a young woman’s death from cancer last year and the catastrophic fire at the COD Donnington military depot in 1983.
The Ministry of Defence, legal experts and public health officials were this week taking stock of an inquest finding which ruled there was a link between a young woman’s death from cancer last year and the catastrophic fire at the COD Donnington military depot in 1983.
The blaze, which caused millions of pounds damage, sent smoke towering over Telford and the resultant fallout dumped ash and debris across roads, countryside, homes and firms.
Last week, an inquest found that Ellen Paddock, 31, a young mother from Brookside, died from exposure to asbestos in that fallout.
As a child, living in Leegomery, she had played in the ash, the jury was told.
Miss Paddock had begun suing the Ministry of Defence before her death and her family is now carrying on that legal action.
The coroner Mr John Ellery, accepted that the jury’s findings could well have ‘wider public health implications’ and be important if more deaths were reported in the future.
Miss Paddock died from mesothelioma, a form of cancer linked to asbestos.
The cause of the fire was never established Ð although arson was suspected but investigators found there was asbestos in the roof and in vehicle brake linings stored there.
A huge area of Telford was affected by fallout from the blaze, which rained down ‘like snow’ on parts of Hadley, Leegomery, Shawbirch and Admaston. Not until a week after the fire, however, was the presence of asbestos confirmed, prompting a huge clear-up operation by council teams in protective clothing.
The unknown factor now is whether anyone else has been affected, as mesothelioma can take up to 40 years or more to develop.
Mark Pritchard, Conservative MP for The Wrekin said: “If residents are worried that they have been affected by the COD fire in Donnington, then they should seek medical help or advice from a doctor.”
Council leader Andrew Eade said: “The Council fully supported the inquest process and gave evidence at the hearing. If there are any health concerns relating to the incident 25 years ago, people should seek medical advice.
‘Improved safety standards in construction materials now greatly reduce the risk of such a recurrence while the Council also keeps a register which indentifies such risks and assesses their likelihood and impact.”
