The short, four-episode Netflix drama titled “Toxic Town” carries a powerful emotional impact despite its brief length.
Centering on stars such as Jodie Whittaker and Aimee Lou Wood, this fresh series chronicles the tale of the Corby toxic waste crisis and a band of mothers who fought for justice for their offspring.
Written by Jack Thorne (of Best Interests and His Dark Materials fame), the author noted about the tale that as one delves deeper into it, the complexity only increases.
The show primarily explores the central figures, who are the mothers involved in the case, by tracing their journeys over several years as they work tirelessly to uncover the truth and gain acknowledgement.
According to Thorne, the real-life females depicted in Toxic Town are not primarily motivated by a desire to target additional individuals, nor were they driven by financial gain.
They express concern about the current state of our nation, fearing that past struggles and sacrifices are being overlooked. When discussions about reducing regulations and bureaucracy arise from the government, they also worry about safeguarding ourselves and future generations.
But what is the true story behind Netflix’s Toxic Town? Read on to find out.
Toxic Town true story: What happened in Corby?
As a lover of films that delve into the depths of reality, let me tell you that Toxic Town isn’t just a chilling work of fiction. Instead, it’s a dramatization inspired by the true events surrounding the Corby toxic waste case.
Back in April 1999, The Sunday Times initially brought light to a significant controversy, revealing the families’ massive million-pound compensation claim.
The first report further detailed the accusations, suggesting that certain birth defects observed in some children could be attributed to harmful chemicals emitted during the renovation process of the Corby steelworks.
For about ten years, families have advocated that the cause of their children’s limb deformities was due to the neglect of the former steel mill, and its subsequent cleanup process.
During its peak period, the steelworks in Corby provided jobs for over 10,000 individuals and occupied an impressive 700 acres. However, when it shut down in 1980, it left a significant mark on both the community and the local economy.
Given the increasing joblessness, there was an urgent requirement to transition from the outdated industry. However, this could only be accomplished by first cleaning up the old location.
During that period, the massive steel factories, ranking among the biggest in Europe, experienced a thorough cleaning project, generating considerable labor and debris along the way.
For a span of 15 years, the area underwent a step-by-step renovation, during which structures were torn down, debris was cleared, and as a result, trash and hazardous muck were generated.
To many residents of the town and those venturing beyond it for distances, the presence of dust was conspicuous, possibly impacting individuals who happened to pass by Corby.
In 2009, Mandy Wright recalled telling the BBC that when she visited the local Sunday market for shopping, upon returning home, her shoes would often be coated with a fine, orange powder.
As a cinema devotee looking back on the past, it’s clear to me now that the contractors hired to clean up the steelworks weren’t exactly experts in dealing with hazardous waste. Solicitor Des Collins put it bluntly at the time: “The way this job was handled was nothing short of abysmal, even by the standards of the ’80s and ’90s.
On numerous occasions, it has become evident that the officials overseeing this task lacked the necessary understanding of their duties. They seemed inexperienced in managing hazardous waste material.
This groundbreaking case not only left a mark on British law but resonated globally, as it was the first to establish a correlation between airborne toxins and harm to unborn babies. Proving this connection was no easy feat, resulting in a lengthy legal battle spanning over a decade, culminating in a trial.
The Corby Borough Council refuted allegations suggesting a connection between the steelworks cleanup and the physical abnormalities observed in some children’s hands and feet.
During the ’80s and ’90s, the local council was determined to be negligent in their handling of hazardous waste at the old steelworks facility within the town, as per a court decision made in a higher judicial body.
Justice Akenhead noted a distinct grouping or pattern of birth defects that occurred more frequently than random chance would suggest, within the timeframe from 1989 to 1999.
Initially, Corby Borough Council planned to challenge the ruling, but instead, they opted for a settlement outside of court with the involved youths. In all, 19 families were compensated, though the specific sums paid out have been kept confidential.
The current head of Corby Council, Chris Mallender, admitted that the council had made mistakes in cleaning up the old British Steel plant site in the past and expressed sincere regret for the impact this may have had on the children who lived nearby and their families.
Though it’s impossible for money to fully make up for the hardships these young people have endured due to their disabilities, the council earnestly believes that this apology along with the agreement will allow them to close this legal chapter and move forward in life with more financial security.
Following the announcement of the settlement, Collins stated: “My clients are constantly reminded by their daily lives of the inadequate clean-up job at the old British Steel factory. This agreement acknowledges the long years of emotional and physical hardship that the 19 affected families have experienced and will continue to experience. It signifies the conclusion of a challenging 11-year legal battle, eliminating any future legal disputes.
As a movie enthusiast, let me express my deep admiration for the unyielding resilience and spirit displayed by the Corby children and their families in securing this remarkable outcome. Not only does it offer a significant financial award, but it also serves as a vital source of aid for healthcare expenses and lost earnings. Truly, their perseverance is something to be celebrated!
Are the main characters in Toxic Town based on real people?
Indeed, the primary characters – Susan, Maggie, and Tracey – depicted in Toxic Town are modeled after real individuals. The same applies to solicitor Des Collins and ex-council employee Sam Hagen.
In the show, Jodie Whittaker portrays Susan McIntyre, a character inspired by a real-life individual with the same name. As shown in the series, Susan’s son Connor was born lacking fingers on his left hand only a few months after she became aware of another local woman who had given birth to a child with a limb abnormality.
Born in Scotland, Susan relocated to Corby at the age of three. Later in life, she emerged as a prominent figure advocating for justice, tirelessly working to uncover explanations for her son’s hardships.
According to reports to The Times, Connor, as a young student, was subjected to severe bullying due to his unique hand. Throughout childhood, he underwent numerous corrective operations, one of which involved transplanting two of his toes onto his hand. Regrettably, the outcome fell short of expectations, and Connor was unable to develop a pincer grip with his hand following the surgery.
While working on Toxic Town, Whittaker shared with TopMob magazine that he had a meeting with Susan on set. He described this encounter as particularly emotional and nerve-wracking because he knew Susan’s strong personality. If she disapproved of his performance, he was aware that she wouldn’t hesitate to express her opinion.
Initially, I came across as clingy and asked her, “Does my speech sound like a blend of Corby and Glasgow?” It’s quite difficult! She simply replied, “Yes,” and gave me a warm hug. Following that, the self-centered actress seemed to show more consideration. However, this wasn’t about me.
In response to an inquiry from a journalist at The Sunday Times, Susan sought out Des Collins to advocate for a group of children born in Corby with birth defects, given the size of the case and the increasing number of affected women coming forth.
In Toxic Town, it was mentioned that Susan chose Des due to their previous association with Corby; he had spent one summer there as a kid, working at the steelworks.
Susan, much like other mothers, sought an apology from the council for their mistakes and an admission of responsibility, but when this wasn’t forthcoming, it was then that the idea for a claim began to take shape.
In the role of Maggie Mahon in Toxic Town, I portray a woman inspired by a true story. My spouse was a truck driver, and as depicted in the series, I’d often find myself vigorously shaking off the dust from his work clothes at the end of the day.
In Corby, where Sam, Mahon’s child, was born with a clubfoot, there was a persistent issue with dust accumulation. Like most residents, she was mindful of this, but unaware of the true extent of its potential harm.
In the series, the character Tracey, portrayed by Aimee Lou Wood, is loosely modeled after a real-life woman who tragically lost her newborn child, Shelby Anne, at only four days old. Originally from Kettering, a town near Corby, Tracey spent her working days in Corby and vividly remembered the dust in the area as being like a “raging sandstorm”.
In the depicted series, it’s observed that Shelby Anne had an abnormal ear shape. After childbirth, she began bleeding excessively and was promptly taken for emergency surgery.
Following her surgery, Tracey discovered that Shelby Anne was struggling with feeding, yet the on-duty midwives reassured her not to be concerned.
The next day, Tracey along with her spouse unexpectedly encountered staff performing resuscitation on Shelby Anne. Subsequently, Shelby Anne was transferred to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Upon examination, doctors discovered that Shelby Anne’s lungs were underdeveloped and she was born with just two chambers instead of the usual four for her heart.
In this situation, as her parents, we chose to remove her from life support to observe the outcome. If she could breathe independently, we intended to allow her to undergo surgery. However, she survived for just 10 minutes, according to Tracey’s statement to The Times.
In Toxic Town, however, Tracy’s situation wasn’t included in the case presented by Des Collins because Shelby Anne’s health issue differed from the group of cases that centered around limb deformities.
Who was Sam Hagen?
In the show, three primary characters resemble actual individuals, and so does Sam Hagen, who is acknowledged with a tribute at the end. Previously, Hagen served as an employee for the Corby council and held the position of deputy leader within the council, but he unfortunately passed away in 2022.
In the 1990s, Hagen voiced his worries about the questionable methods used during the revitalization project of the old steel mill, but unfortunately, his concerns fell on deaf ears. As depicted in Toxic Town, Hagen provided solicitor Des Collins with a substantial amount of data he had gathered from a technical officer, which he felt was crucial to address.
Until Hagen handed over the council documents, Collins asserted that he hadn’t received any details from the authorities concerning the cleanup of the old steelworks site. This information turned out to be vital in gaining a better grasp of the situation at hand.
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2025-02-27 16:05