ARSENIC contamination on land behind bungalows in Gunnislake may result in the homeowners having to foot the bill for removing the affected soil. Contaminated soil in the gardens at the development at Sandhills Park, on the site of the former Gunnislake station, was removed, as part of planning conditions. But developers were instructed to erect a fence to prevent access to a bank adjacent to them contaminated with a high level of arsenic ? 2,500mg per kilogram of soil as opposed to the Government?s safe limit of 20mg. However, the fence erected was not sufficient to prevent access by homeowners and the land was also incorrectly deeded to them, resulting in many of them incorporating it into their gardens and working on the area. The developer?s failure to comply with conditions in respect of ground contamination is being dealt with by Caradon District Council?s environmental services unit. The section head of environmental health Martin Gregory told the community services panel recently that not all occupiers had undertaken works, but the majority had. He reported that the bank had been left by the developer as un-landscaped, and therefore was substantially overgrown with brambles and weeds. The residents were able to see the land which was considered to be an eyesore, therefore they undertook work to improve the area. Communications with the development control department, the developer, the residents and environmental health had failed to resolve the situation informally. Mr Gregory said: ?Circumstances have changed and the original proposed remediation ? fence and restricted access ? is no longer appropriate to deal with the contamination on site.? The most appropriate course of action was for the matter to be dealt with under the Environmental Protection Act of 1990, he said. Options include stripping the topsoil, laying an impermeable membrane to prevent the rise of poisons, and covering the area with new soil. If the developer fails to remedy the situation, the owners/occupiers of the land could be held responsible for the work. One option is for the council to carry out the works and reclaim the costs. Allowing for the necessary procedures, it is anticipated it will be a minimum of 12 months before the site will undergo remediation measures.
