By JANE FIELD

INVESTIGATIONS are underway in Sankey after waste from the soap industry was found under Evelyn Street allotments.

Precautionary ground probes are proposed for a number of adjoining properties on Roughley Avenue, Broadhurst Avenue and Rosthern Close. Only the houses that might be affected have been contacted.

These will form part of new duties imposed on councils across the country to assess former industrial sites.

Once the probes are complete a reclamation scheme, including landscaping and planting trees, will take place on the allotments.

The works will be jointly funded by Warrington Borough Council and Landfill Tax funds from Cheshire Community Trust Limited.

Residents are to be kept informed by the council at all stages and any questions will be answered.

"Like many councils across the country, and in line with new government guidelines, we are keen to ensure that materials left over from industrial development many years ago are not detrimental to the social and environmental well-being of the borough," said director of environmental services Keith Millington.

"By undertaking these precautionary investigations in and around the homes we can determine the extent of the waste, share the findings with residents and decide on any further steps identified as a result."

Anyone will any concerns can contact the council's information line on 443245.