Birth-defect victims in 'Little Scotland' win 20-year fight for cash

Birth-defect victims in 'Little Scotland' win 20-year fight for cash

In a landmark high court ruling last July, Corby Borough Council in Northamptonshire was found negligent in its management of toxic waste at a former steelworks during the 1980s and 1990s.

The town of Corby has a long Scottish heritage, with almost a fifth of its population coming from north of the Border, according to the 2001 census.

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The council had denied it was negligent and that there was a link between the removal of waste to a quarry north of the site and deformities affecting hands and feet.

But Mr Justice Akenhead found there was a "statistically significant" cluster of birth defects between 1989 and 1999.

The council had previously said it would fight the ruling, but yesterday agreed to drop its challenge. After talks this week, it said it had reached a final, binding agreement with 19 young people.

It will now pay compensation to each of the children, without accepting liability in the case, it announced in a statement with the solicitors of families involved. The statement said the financial terms of settlement would remain confidential and would require approval by the court in the case of the younger children.

Corby Borough Council chief executive Chris Mallender said: "The council recognises that it made mistakes in its clean-up of the former British Steel site years ago and extends its deepest sympathy to the children and their families."

Des Collins, solicitor for the families involved, said they were relieved the battle was over.

He said: "My clients live with the daily reminder of the substandard clean-up of the former British Steel plant in Corby. Of course, no financial sum can properly compensate for their lifelong deformities and disabilities. However, they are relieved that their long battle is now over. Today's agreement recognises the many years of emotional and physical suffering the 19 families have endured and will continue to endure. It marks the end of an arduous 11-year legal challenge and removes the prospect of further litigation.

"Importantly, it also provides a financial award which will help towards the healthcare costs and loss of earnings they will inevitably face in the future."

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Speaking after the announcement, Louise Carley, whose daughter Ashleigh Custance, now 11, has problems with her right hand and arm, said: "I'm relieved. It's a good outcome after a long battle. I thought they would appeal; they kept saying they were going to.

"But the mediation went well this week and now we're here. This is closure, it means we can move on with our lives."

Sarah Pearson, the mother of Lewis Waterfield, 15, who was born with significant deformities affecting both hands, said: "We are just so relieved our fight is finally at an end. On behalf of all the Corby children and their families, I would like to thank all those who have supported us.

"We would also like to give credit to the council for including three other children in this agreement, despite the court's ruling last year."

Central English town with a Scottish heart

DESPITE its location near Kettering in central England, Corby has a distinctly Scottish flavour. Many Scots migrated there for the steel trade and the accent, referred to as "Corbyite", sounds Glaswegian.

According to the 2001 census, almost a fifth of people in the Corby area were born in Scotland – more than 10,000 people. It is estimated that a further third of the population are of Scottish descent.

There are Scottish social and sports clubs and many fervent supporters of Rangers and Celtic football clubs. Corby is home to the largest Rangers supporter'' club outside Glasgow and Northern Ireland.

Shops sell Scottish food and a supermarket even introduced Gaelic signs at one point. An annual Highland Gathering featuring traditional Scottish music and dancing is held in the town. Corby is the only town in England apart from London with two Church of Scotland kirks.

In 1934, the owners of the ironstone works decided to build a large integrated ironstone and steel works in the town. It drew workers from all over Britain, many from the west of Scotland.

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