Cambridge East Station: A Toxic Pandora's Box

Cambridge East Station: A Toxic Pandora's Box

Posted on Jun 29, 2026 by jsw  | Tags: Cambridge, Transport, Cambridge East Station

The proposed site for a new Cambridge East railway station poses a real and worrying threat to public health.   The Campaign to Protect Rural England, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough CPRE, says the land, once used as an industrial and domestic waste landfill, contains a number of dangerous “forever” chemicals. 

The station is proposed to serve the new East West Rail (EWR) link. CPRE’s Ian Ralls says there are no accurate records of exactly what was disposed of at the site which is directly south of Coldham’s Lane, but it is known to contain a number of toxic compounds.  These include Chromium VI, a highly toxic, carcinogenic chemical associated with industrial processes such as welding and electroplating. Cyanide is also present as are PFAS (Perfluoroakyl Substances). PFAS are man-made chemicals which are resistant to degradation and stay in the environment also animal and human bodies for long periods. PFAS are nicknamed “forever chemicals”. 

PFAS have been used to make non-stick coatings on cookware as well as protective coatings for carpets, some fabrics, cardboard food packaging and many other products. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have classified one of the PFAS as carcinogenic to humans. 

“Because of the unconsolidated nature of the landfill’s contents, buildings cannot be placed directly on top of the former landfill. Any construction will require driving piles through the contents of the landfill to anchor them to the bedrock,” CPRE spokesman Ian Ralls explained. Mr Ralls, who also campaigns for Friends of the Earth has a Master’s degree in Environmental Science. “Developing this site risks disturbing the contamination and causing harm to public health, the environment, groundwater and nearby watercourses. 

“The unknown nature of the contaminants on site risks releasing a Pandora's Box of toxic compounds into the wider surface and water environments,” warned Mr Ralls. “As little is known about what compounds are contained in the site, the authorities cannot plan in advance how to counter any potentially negative effects resulting from their release into the atmosphere.  It’s a dangerous prospect”. 

CPRE Cambridge is urging the developers of EWR and the Planning authorities to find another location for Cambridge East station. They say disturbing the present site must be avoided at all costs.

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Ian Ralls

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