RESIDENTS’ FEARS OVER ‘DEADLY’ TOXINS

Apr 18 2007 Paisley Daily Express

FAMILIES fear they are at risk from potentially lethal toxins which are bubbling to the surface on land which has been earmarked for housing.

Concerns have been raised after the council-owned site was found to be heavily contaminated with metals and chemicals which were buried there decades ago.

The land is popular with people who walk their dogs there and also includes a children’s play area.

But the contamination is believed to be so bad that kids have now been warned to stay away by worried local people, who are demanding the area be cordoned off from the public.

They have told how a thick, black, tar-like substance can be clearly seen lying on the ground at the site, which is between Erskinefauld Road and Brediland Road, Linwood.

Known locally as Erskinefauld Park, it was once the location of the Brediland Chemical Works, which closed in the 1960s.

Retired engineer Jimmy Smith believes the area should be closed off as a matter of urgency until the community can be sure it is safe.

He said: “We don’t know exactly what’s in the tar-like substance but we know there was a chemical works on the site and it is likely that chemicals were buried there.

“We have seen a report on the land and have real concerns about its safety. There are chemicals there that could pose a very serious health risk to children if they are exposed to them over the long term.

“I have already told parents to keep their children away from the site and, when houses are built there, it is imperative that none of this stuff remains in the land.”

Sanctuary Housing Association wants to build around 40 homes on the site, which Renfrewshire Council will donate for free to help boost the regeneration of the town.

Bosses at Sanctuary commissioned a report into the condition of the land and have lodged a planning application to go ahead with the development.

They believe they can deal with the contamination on site – which they estimate will cost around £700,000 – although local activists have yet to be convinced that is possible.

A council spokesperson said: “The planning process has clear and demanding guidelines requiring developers to address the issue of land which may contain potential contaminants.

“In this case, there is a specific planning application from Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association which addresses the clean up of the site. Only if that is eventually approved could the applications for housing be granted.

“Development routinely takes place across the country on areas where there may be land contamination and where a clean up process has been put in place before development can start.

“Also, council officials have already had discussions with the local community in Linwood and we will be investigating the issue of the surface material which has been reported to us.

“If we believe that further measures have to be taken in the short term, such as cordoning off an area from public access, we’d do that.”