WE LEARN through documents obtained by a resident that 7,300 tons of earth from the Olympics site, polluted with radioactive waste, are to be buried in a vast container near the River Lea and under housing

Dear Ed,

I WROTE to the Olympics Development Authority and to ministers some three years ago expressing concerns over radioactive waste on the Olympics site, raised with me by residents in Bow and adjoining areas. I was told this was being closely monitored and there was absolutely no danger to residents or to workers on the site.

Now we learn through documents obtained by a resident that more than 7,300 tons of earth from the site, polluted with radioactive waste are to be buried in a vast container near the River Lea and under housing.

There are the usual claims that the danger is minimal. But the documents also say that homes built over or near the container should be designed to ensure the Radon poisonous gas does not collect in homes and that water below the container should not be drained and used for watering vegetable gardens.

This is very disturbing. Most disturbing of all is that the Government and the Olympic authorities have not been transparent about what they have found and what they intend to do about it, but that this has only come to light through detective work by a resident.

I am not saying anyone should panic—but we certainly need urgent reassurances from expert independent scientific witnesses confirming the nature of the threat and the appropriateness of the disposal of the waste.

I have written to Olympics minister Tessa Jowell and Development authority Chief Executive David Higgins to tell them that nothing less will begin to satisfy the profound concerns these revelations have raised.

George Galloway, MP (Respect)

House of Commons

Westminster

George Galloway, MP (Respect)

House of Commons

Westminster