The government has announced an inquiry into the death of Zane Gbangola, following a long campaign by his father, a CIOB fellow.
Kye Gbangola FCIOB has been calling for a change to the law on contaminated land after the death of his seven-year-old son in 2014.
Gbangbola and his family had moved into a house in Surrey 10 years earlier but were not informed it was next to a landfill site. During the floods of 2014, floodwater ran through the landfill, and the house was infused with hydrogen cyanide (HCN) gas. Zane died as a consequence.
Emma Reynolds, secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, said the independent, non-statutory inquiry would be chaired by lawyer Dr Sandie Okoro OBE.
She said: “Zane Gbangbola tragically died at the age of seven in February 2014 at his family home in Chertsey, Surrey. The prime minister and I have both met with Zane’s family, and we listened carefully to their concerns about what happened, the response of public bodies at the time, and the treatment they received in the years that followed.
Forward-looking inquiry
“We have decided to commission an independent inquiry to examine the circumstances surrounding Zane’s death. This will include how public services and relevant authorities worked together during and after the incident, and how Zane’s family were treated by those organisations. It will be forward-looking in its approach, identifying any lessons that can be learned and making recommendations to improve practice in the future.
“The chair will act independently of government and will be supported by access to appropriate subject matter and technical expertise. The government expects all public bodies and individuals engaged by the inquiry to cooperate fully, openly and candidly. Once in force, the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, otherwise known as the “Hillsborough Law”, can be drawn upon by all live inquiries, including this one.”
Reynolds said the inquiry’s full terms of reference will be published “shortly”.
‘Truth for Zane’
Reacting to the announcement, Kye Gbangola told CM: “Our fight for Zane’s inquiry is both personal, borne out of tragedy, and an unbreakable demand for truth for Zane, and the thousands of loved ones affected by other UK scandals, including Hillsborough, the Post Office and Grenfell.
“We must restore the hope of truth and accountability for those impacted by cover-up and deception, but also lead the way to a future where public services have a culture of candour, service, and doing the right thing.
“TruthAboutZane is proud to have fought shoulder to shoulder with Hillsborough and many of this country’s greatest campaigners, to deliver the Hillsborough Law.
“The announcement of Zane’s Inquiry, and the Hillsborough Law, enables us to take a breath and look up to those we have lost, and say we will never give up on you, and your right to justice.”
Zane’s law
Gbangola has been a CIOB member since 1987, he was the institute’s first sustainability ambassador and is a trustee of CIOB Assist.
Since his son’s tragic death, he has led the campaign for a Zane’s Law which he argues “will clean up Britain’s contaminated land legacy” and “protect workers and communities from the harm and death caused by toxic contaminated land and related waters”.
Zane Gbangola’s death is one of several contaminated land incidents that have recently come into the public consciousness. The Netflix drama, Toxic Town, highlighted the families suffering from birth defects and cancers in Corby.
According to the British Medical Journal, 80% of people in this country live within 2km of landfill.
Reynolds added: “I would like to place on record my heartfelt condolences to Zane’s parents for the loss of their beloved boy, Zane. I also wish to thank them for their continued engagement and reaffirm my commitment to ensuring that this inquiry is conducted thoroughly, independently, and with the seriousness and care that this tragedy deserves.”
