Amber Online

A major inquiry into the health of people living close to Monkton cokeworks is to go ahead this year.

South Tyneside Health Authority will study health records of scores of families living on two estates by the works - operating in Hebburn for over 50 years. Residents claim their health has suffered badly because of pollution from the 66 coke ovens overshadowing their homes. And they hope inquiry results will provide ammunition to get a complete clean-up of the works which does not use the best anti-pollution techniques. The health authority was called in by South Tyneside Council's environmental health committee. Committee chairman Coun. Martin Lightfoot said the investigation had been ordered because of increasing pressure from local residents. Two years ago a study of air pollution measured in local school playgrounds proved inconclusive. But the new study - led by Dr. Bashir Malik, a specialist in community medicine, will centre on health records and examine caseloads of local GPs rather than rely on technical data. A similar study into coke and coal pollution was carried out last year in Glynneath in South Wales. The study concluded that local people suffered generally poor health which, it said, must be linked with pollution from a local coke plant. Ironically two olympic medallists - Steve Cram and Brendan Foster - both once lived near the Monkton works. They escaped with good health by moving away from the area.