Alisha Lawler, a 46-year-old mother from Garston, believes an incorrectly fitted industrial heat pump contributed to the death of her dog Holly and her own diagnosis of breast cancer. She is now seeking a judicial review.
Ms Lawler has lived on Moss Street for eight years, separated by an alleyway from Moss House, a Mersey Care facility. In January 2025, she reported that a heat pump was being installed beside the boundary wall at Moss House. Liverpool Council's planning enforcement teams later found it was in the wrong location.
Health Concerns and Symptoms
The device was turned on in March 2025, running on a 12-hour schedule. Ms Lawler took noise readings that registered between 60 and 70 decibels. She told the ECHO: "I began experiencing a range of unexplained symptoms, my bladder became abnormal, me and my daughter both suffered extreme tiredness, headaches, and dizziness. During February to April my first dog, Holly, developed a tumour the size of a tennis ball that erupted in three days, and she had to be put to sleep."
Her second dog also became ill and later developed a tumour which was removed in January. A freedom of information request revealed the machine had been wired incorrectly and had undergone a refrigerant gas recharge.
Cancer Diagnosis and Ongoing Fears
In September last year, Ms Lawler discovered a lump on her chest. A month later, she was diagnosed with grade 3 breast cancer. A week after her first surgery, the unit was removed. A planning application to relocate the machinery was submitted in November but later withdrawn by Mersey Care.
No losses of gas were found from the unit, but an engineer who examined photo evidence said it had been switched off. Ms Lawler also paid for private soil testing, which she said identified contamination of the ground from weedkiller.
She added: "I am a mother in cancer treatment, not Liverpool Council's unpaid safety inspector. I was right the plant was in the wrong place. I was right that it was not what was approved. I am still sick and nobody will find out why."
Official Responses and Legal Action
A Liverpool Council spokesperson said: "We are unable to comment in detail about individual complaints. However, having thoroughly reviewed this case we have concluded no further environmental or public health investigation or action is warranted on the information that is currently available. We are happy to review it if new information is provided."
A spokesman for Mersey Care said: "As this matter is currently the subject of ongoing legal proceedings, it would be inappropriate for the Trust to comment on the specific allegations or issues raised. Mersey Care takes its responsibilities to patients, staff, neighbours and the wider community seriously and has a long record of working with communities to establish cordial and close relations. We will not make any further comment until the court proceedings are concluded."
A spokesperson for UKHSA North West said: "We are aware of this issue and provided advice as per our public health remit to Liverpool Council." Ms Lawler has confirmed she will seek a judicial review.
