We live near a CYANIDE dump and the council wants to let a housing estate be built right next to it – we’re terrified
RESIDENTS who live near a cyanide dump are terrified that the council want to built a housing estate right next to it.
The new 48-home development for Wolston in Warwickshire, has been bitterly opposed by locals who are fearing for their safety.
The huge Spitfire Homes development, on former allotments in front of the higher disused waste tip site, is near the village centre nestled between Rugby and Coventry.
But the area just next-door has long been known as a 1970s dumping ground for cyanide.
And the land is said to be filled with drums of cyanide which could start leaking underground at “any point”.
The first phase of work started in March and is currently at the digging and drainage stage, leaving locals worried about the impact.
Mum-of-two Jessica Ramsay told MailOnline: “We haven’t started testing yet but we will as soon as we have bought the kits.
“Rugby Borough Council has done some basic testing but it was non invasive and, we believe, inadequate. Not enough is being done to monitor it so we have no choice but to test ourselves.”
The 36-year-old continued: “The site is a potential death trap. If barrels of cyanide buried 10 feet under ground start leaking, as conservation experts have stated they could after many years, it would be almost at the level of the new homes on lower ground and the existing allotments.
“It could be catastrophic. It is an accident waiting to happen. It could kill off the population of Coventry.”
Her mum Lesley Blay, 74 added: “We want to welcome new people to our lovely village when the houses are built and we residents have a duty of care to make sure it is a safe place for them.”
The long time villager told how at the former top site “legitimate waste was buried and capped off but illegal waste was also being dumped indiscriminately.”
Back in January 1972 the local paper, Coventry Evening Telegraph’s Rugby edition, reported on its front page about the health hazard under the headline ”Killer tips’ report goes to minister”.
The outlet stated: “A report on ‘death tips’ near Wolston where there is said to be enough cyanide to kill the population of Coventry is now before a government minister.”
However, some locals believe that other residents’ fears are completely unfounded.
Robert Asker, who has lived in the village for 50 years, said: “Nobody wants the new houses here but you can’t stop them building. We have no choice.
“There’s been a lot of talk about toxic waste and cyanide barrels but there’s never been a problem.
“It’s a lot of hearsay. The land has been monitored and tested.”
A Rugby Borough Council report into the former tip states: “Based upon the current evidence described in this report, the land is not a site of potential concern requiring further risk assessment or intrusive investigation.
“The Council has concluded that the land does not meet the definition of contaminated land for the current uses of the land or those that have determined planning permission.
“The Council recognises that the nature of soil contamination means it is not possible to know the exact contamination status of the land with absolute certainty and that scientific understanding of risks may evolve over time.
“Following the relevant guidance, it is concluded that currently there is no reasonable possibility of a significant contaminant linkage. This is the pathway by which contaminants affect a receptor. There is currently no evidence that the waste products are causing exposure at the surface, to plants or leaching into the ground water and affecting controlled waters.
“The area of the historic landfill sites or surrounding area which may have been subject to historic illegal dumping is not considered to pose a significant possibility of significant harm to the current uses of the land, which include farming and livestock grazing, allotments and residential occupation of Wolston.
“Should the situation alter with new linkages arising, such as evidence of pollution of controlled waters, migration or exposure of contaminants or a change of land use then this conclusion will be re-assessed.”
Rugby Council and Spitfire Homes have been contacted for comment.