Former landfill sites to be tested for potential contamination

Two former landfill sites in York will be investigated to discover whether they have contaminated nearby land, reducing soil quality in the area.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has awarded the City of York Council £51,000 as a grant to help fund the cost of the survey.

Work at both sites will include taking soil and water samples and monitoring ground-gas.

One site is located at Chapman's Pond, just off Moor Lane, while the other is situated behind Westfield School, near Askham Lane.

If either or both of the areas are found to be polluted, they will come under the council's revised land contamination strategy, which provides a framework for the clean-up process.

Senior contaminated land officer Lucie Hankinson told the York Press that the council is committed to protecting the environment of the city and its residents' health.

"We aim to protect people, property and the environment from contaminants in the ground and encourage the brown field regeneration of contaminated sites," she said.

Posted by Joseph Hutton