Petition to make Zane’s Law a reality

Many residents will remember the tragic story of Zane Gbangbola who lost his life in the severe Spelthorne floods of 2014 due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Local councillor Chris Bateson has previously written about this incident.

Spelthorne Borough Council was one of the first councils to call for an investigation although the initial response from DEFRA was disappointing. Since then, a movement advocating for legislative change to prevent similar tragedies has developed.

Zane's Law proposes mandatory carbon monoxide detectors in all homes, a crucial step towards ensuring the safety of individuals during flood events. By signing the petition, organised by 38 Degrees, you can add your voice to the many demanding actionable measures to safeguard lives.

Several councils have already endorsed Zane's Law, recognizing the importance of proactive measures to prevent carbon monoxide-related incidents during flooding. Lewes Council were the first but since then others, including Elmbridge Borough Council, Guildford Borough Council, and Runnymede Borough Council, have endorsed it. These councils are championing the cause and urging the government to prioritise the safety of citizens by enacting legislation inspired by Zane's tragic story. By adding your signature to the petition, you join this growing movement, advocating for change and honouring the memory of Zane Gbangbola.

More details (from the petition page):

‘Zane’s Law’ proposes that the following measures be vigorously pursued, with no ambiguity in government guidance, to prioritise the protection and safety of people and planet, and the human right to a healthy environment, above all other considerations.

1. Every Local Authority must keep a full, regularly updated Register of Land that may be contaminated within their boundary.

2. The Environment Agency must keep a full, public 'National Register of Contaminated Land' to be regularly updated by information from Local Authorities.

3. All above mentioned Registers of Land must be accessible and available for inspection by the General Public.

4. Relevant Local Authorities must fully inspect any land registered that may be contaminated and must fully remediate or enforce remediation of any land which poses harm to public safety, or which pollutes controlled waters.

5. Relevant Local Authorities must be responsible for inspecting previously closed landfill sites and fully remediating them, or enforcing their remediation when they pose a risk of significant harm to people or controlled waters.

6. The Government must take full responsibility for providing the necessary funds for Local Authorities to meet these new requirements, following the ‘polluter pays’ principle: to recover costs as appropriate where those responsible for the pollution can be identified.