‘Don’t panic’ over rubbish (From Stourbridge News)

‘Don’t panic’ over rubbish

3:06pm Monday 22nd January 2007 in Local

RESIDENTS living on the site of a former tip in Wollaston are being warned not to panic after buried waste materials were found to have risen to the surface.

Dudley Council is to launch an environmental investigation in Sherwood Road, Arden Close and Wyre Road after recent works unearthed pieces of brick, glass, pottery, ash and metal.

The council says the investigation is merely routine and will determine whether there is any cause for concern - but residents living on the tiny estate, which is a mix of private and council-owned properties, have been left wondering just what their homes are sitting on.

Resident David Dymott said: "I'm concerned, it seems quite strange - you just don't know what's down there."

Ward councillor June Collins said: "I suppose there would be concerns naturally, but it's not uncommon for houses to be built on domestic waste tips."

Many residents said they had not had time to think about it as the news had come out of the blue; the first they heard about it was when the council hand-delivered letters to the 75 homes on the estate last Wednesday.

And others said they were not concerned and would be opening up their back gardens for the council to carry out its investigations.

Resident Gary Tether said: "A lot of materials that were thrown on the site at that time would eventually disappear unlike the plastics of today."

Investigative works will see soil and gas samples taken from around a third of properties on the estate.

Work is due to start on Monday February 19 and the results should be revealed in March.

Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for the environment, said: "The fact the estate was built on the site of an old tip is not necessarily cause for concern.

"Some level of soil contamination is common in urban areas, particularly those which have such a strong industrial history and its presence does not necessarily mean there is a risk."

She said the council would be holding an information event at St James's Church, Wollaston, on Saturday February 3 giving residents chance to find out more before the work begins.

Council spokesman Katherine Finney added: "There is no need for people to be alarmed, we will be keeping in very close contact with residents."

She said transport to the open event would be made available for disabled people.