Cherwell District Council leader, Lesley McLean, has written to the water and flooding minister, Emma Hardy, calling for urgent action on chemical pollution at a former RAF air base in Oxfordshire. Independent testing in a stream near RAF Upper Heyford found levels of PFAS, also known as 'forever chemicals', 43,000 times higher than environmental standards.
Local campaigners have previously expressed concerns about the potential health risks associated with the chemicals, which can take thousands of years to break down. The council leader's letter also called for the government to consider designating Heyford Park and its surrounding area as a priority monitoring site for PFAS.
Developers Dorchester Living, who own the site, have welcomed the council leader's 'proactive approach' and acknowledged the need for a coordinated multi-agency response. Bicester and Woodstock MP Calum Miller has also pressed for residents to meet with the Environment and Health Secretaries to discuss the issue.
Earlier this week, the BBC revealed that historic Ministry of Defence documents described 'firefighting chemicals' being washed down the drain at the RAF site, which are now feared to be the source of chemical pollution in nearby waterways. Concerns were first raised by residents in April after previous water data came to light, showing high levels of the chemicals 4km downstream.
The Environment Agency (EA) previously stated there was a risk of contamination at the site from historic fire fighting activities. The government has been urged to take immediate action to address the issue and ensure public safety.