Stafford Global Hygiene blaze site still not clear a year after fire
The site of one of the largest blazes to hit Stafford in decades has still not been completely cleared more than a year on.
And fears remain that pollution from the site could be seeping into surrounding waterways.
The fire at Global Hygiene in March 2016 sent fireballs into the sky, destroying the cleaning factory at Astonfields Industrial Estate and causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to neighbouring firms, including Drummond Business, also known as Goodwins Removals Stafford.
The Environment Agency (EA) assumed control of the clean-up and investigation after it emerged that Global did not have an oil storage permit – despite the fact the fire involved 40,000 litres of oil.
According to the agency, the initial phase of that probe is now complete and a decision on how to proceed is due soon.
A spokeswoman said: "'The Environment Agency is continuing to work with Global Hygiene and their consultants and contractors regarding clearing the remaining waste.
"Work has started on site on this but is not yet complete. The Environment Agency is committed to ensuring that it is carried out appropriately and will continue to pursue this.
"A ground contamination survey on the Goodwins site has been completed.
"This showed it was largely uncontaminated by the fire. Similar work on the Global site will follow.
"The booms and pads are still in place in the local waterway to collect pollutants seeping into it.
"Our initial investigation into potential waste and water pollution offences is complete and our legal team have assessed the information.
"A decision on how we will proceed will be released in due course."
Goodwins, which was based next to Global, submitted proposals for a 940 sq metre storage and distribution unit back in February, which would save the 15 jobs that were there prior to the blaze.
The Environment Agency has completed a ground survey at the firm's site, which found it was 'largely uncontaminated'.
It is now set to begin the same tests at the Global site, where the fire took hold.
In the early aftermath of the huge blaze it was confirmed that oil from the site gones as far as Derbyshire, and Global bosses were asked to put together a a pollution prevention plan.
Seventy firefighters were at the industrial site at the height of the blaze and residents were told to keep windows shut by Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service as they battled to stop the flames spreading.
No-one from Global Hygiene was available for comment.
