RESIDENTS living in homes built on a former railway station used for transporting arsenic are to finally have their gardens decontaminated after years of worry and health fears.

Cornwall Council is proposing to carry out remediation of contamination land in the front and back gardens of 18 properties at Sand Hill Park, Gunnislake, which were built more than ten years ago.

But although financial assistance has been sought for the works, which could cost up to £500,000, property owners have been told they may have to meet some of the total themselves.

Resident Larry Lockett, 76, said he was very happy something was to be done at last: 'It's been a nightmare, waiting to see what will happen.

'We wanted to move but we could not sell the property because it was registered contaminated. No-one could get a mortgage on it so we were stuck.'

The trains from the former station were used for transporting arsenic to nearby mine workings and investigations to test the levels of arsenic in the soil resulted in the site being officially registered as contaminated land under the Environmental Protection Act in July 2011.

Mr Lockett added: 'I've had to grow all my vegetables in pots as we were told the soil was a health risk. It's been going on and on and I have got very angry with the council at times.'

Jeanette Pollard said when she moved into her property in 2003 she had no knowledge of the contamination: 'I would not have moved here if I knew the site was contaminated. It's been going on so long I am glad it's now going to be done. We have been assured that the site will be totally clean and we want it on our deeds that the site is not contaminated.'

But for some residents it is a double-edged sword as the beautifully landscaped gardens they have worked for years to achieve will be razed to the ground.

The council is proposing to remove the contaminated soil, install retaining walls on the rear embankment, lay down membranes to stop mixing of contaminated soil and lay new clean soil.

Kathleen Newland said she was now on blood pressure tablets because of the stress and worry of it all: 'We have mature acers here, a summer house, shed and patio and that will all be taken up. We are really upset about it and the possibility that we might have to pay for it when none of it is our fault.'

County councillor for Gunnislake Dorothy Kirk said: 'I feel extremely sorry for the residents as they face a time of upheaval that nobody would welcome. It is absolutely heartbreaking for those who have put so much effort into creating beautiful gardens and it is a great worry to every single resident.

'It will be a job well done when all of this is over and they can relax and get on with their lives.'

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said planning permission was granted in 2001 and included conditions to address the contamination issues at the site, including the removal of all ballast material and importation of 600mm of clean topsoil within the garden areas and a substantial fence to prevent access to the historical railway embankment which adjoined rear gardens.

A site visit by the authority in March 2004 established that the developers had failed to carry out various works.

'Unfortunately, the companies under which the site was developed have now been liquidated and as such Cornwall Council is unable to pursue the development companies,' said a council spokesperson.

'The legislation says if the person who is responsible for the contamination cannot be found legally then the liability must fall onto the current landowners.

'A detailed design to deal with the contamination has now been drawn up which has now been submitted as a planning application. The funding for the works has yet to be finalised, however, an application has been made to the Local Authority Contaminated Land Capital Programme for financial assistance for the project.

'The design proposed will ensure that the garden areas are safe for the residents and their families to use.'