Bedwas colliery land contains harmful chemicals (From Campaign Series)

Bedwas colliery land contains harmful chemicals

12:30pm Wednesday 16th September 2009

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CAMPAIGNERS against a council development plan in which the Bedwas colliery site could be built on have found out that there is cyanide and arsenic in the ground.

Caerphilly County Borough Council has put the land into their Local Development Plan, which could mean 650 houses and a school built on the site, if a developer put plans in for the private site. The land would form part of the council's need to meet government housing targets.

Last year several public meetings were held to discuss the plans for the use the site. A group called the Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen Action Group was set up to fight the proposal.

The group was particularly interested in what was in the ground and used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain a report on the chemicals in the ground.

Member of the Action Group, Malcolm Harry said: "The report states that there is various toxic chemicals in the ground such a lead, arsenic, asbestos, naptha and other nasty chemicals.

"These would need to be made safe before the land was built on and this would cost millions."

Mr Harry thinks that this would make the land non viable.

MP Wayne David and AM Jeff Cuthbert are supporting the action group. Mr David has written to the council expressing his objections.

This week the council is considering a range of submissions from local people about a major document called the Local Development Plan (LDP) which will shape the authority's planning guidance for years to come.

CCBC cabinet member for transportation and planning, Cllr Rob Gough, said: "The council is mindful of these concerns and we will fully consider the health and wellbeing of local people as part of any decision that is made about the future use of the land. If there was to be any development on the Bedwas colliery site in the future, we would insist that any potentially dangerous chemicals are dealt with appropriately."

Cllr Gough also stated that the council has previous experience of remediation of contaminated land with the development at Penrhos in Caerphilly.

"The land is privately owned, but we would carry out strict monitoring of any works carried out on the site.

"We have recent experience of managing the remediation of contaminated land, as seen at major development sites such as Penrhos in Caerphilly, so we can assure residents that appropriate action will be taken, regardless of the eventual use of the site in the future."

Leader of council, Cllr Lindsay Whittle added: "Having experienced a major contaminated land situation within my ward at Penrhos, residents of Bedwas should understand that it is much better to remove this material than to see it remain on site. Although there was some disruption during the remediation works, the long term benefits far outweigh any short term inconvenience."

The LDP process involves consulting residents, landowners and other interested parties about land use across the county borough.

A series of special council meetings this week to consider each representation that has been made, before the draft document is considered by an independent Planning Inspector for final approval.

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