Special report by

VIVIEN KANDEL

A CONTROVERSIAL tip in Sandiway DOES pose a potential risk to public health, a leading toxicologist has revealed.

Dr Virginia Murray was asked by South Cheshire Health Authority to carry out tests at the site in Chester Road.

This followed complaints from residents about feeling ill through a foul acrid stench being emitted.

Dr Murray has stated that it would be premature to speculate on causative agents until further environmental tests were carried out-nothing was conclusive.

But she revealed that the current programme does present a potential threat to public health on the following grounds:

Blue asbestos has been identified from the surface and beneath just a few inches of waste in an area where children used to play.

Potential landfill gas and chemical migration through soil to nearby housing stock and gardens.

Foul odours and widespread dust contamination.

Nine cases of aggravation of asthma and respiratory diseases identified by GPs at their surgery in Sandiway during the week of September 22 to 29.

Questions have also been raised in the report as to whether off site monitoring is being carried out correctly.

The following plan of action has been suggested:

Reducing the size of the exposed workface by only allowing a smaller area to be uncovered at a time.

Targeting removal of contaminated waste to minimise vaporisation time.

Remove rainwater and any contaminated liquid from site immediately.

Increase the speed of the removal of the contaminated soil and waste and covering any particularly odorous contamination until rapid clean up available.

Review the deodoriser process, which might be increasing contamination to local population.

Complete work before summer.

The final issue of CLOSING the site may have to be considered.

Richard Hallows, of Vale Royal Borough Council environmental services department welcomed Dr Murray's report.

He said: "She has quite properly presented the factors for potential risk on work done to date. It is an important part of this process.

" For our part we have assured Dr Murray that we are using the correct tubes in our off site testing. I am satisfied that our methods are correct."

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