A special report by VIVIEN KANDEL

ARE the fumes at the controversial tip in Sandiway a danger to public health? Our questions will be answered in the next few weeks.

For South Cheshire Health Authority has called on one of the country's leading toxicologists, Dr Veronica Murray, who is based at Guys Hospital in London, to find out once and for all whether there is cause for concern.

Dr Murray came down to the former BNL tip in Chester Road last week, to see the site for herself and make a report on her findings.

One interim report has already been sent to South Cheshire Health Authority and Dr Murray is coming to the area again next week to explain to all concerned parties in person what her second interim report means.

Mark Sproston, one of the members of the Sandiway and Cuddington Action Group, fears the news will not be good.

He said: "When we had our meeting last week with Dr Leslie Clyne from South Cheshire Health Authority, he told us that Dr Murray said there may be a potential risk to health.

"Obviously the ideal outcome is that there isn't any concern or risk to health. If they can demonstrate and prove that then all this is just a case of nuisance value.

"But I don't honestly believe when you have some of the substances we've been hearing about, and when there's serious elements flying around, that there is nothing to worry about.

"For years people were told that asbestos wasn't a danger to health, for years the cigarette industry said there was no danger to lungs.

"I just hope that if there is a problem Dr Murray will be advising the environmental health agency to tell the developer to stop work until the risk can be minimised," he added.

Meanwhile Dr Leslie Clyne from the health authority confirmed investigations were continuing into the potential threat that the landfill site represented.

"On the advice of the Chemical Incident Response Team we have requested further tests to complement those that have been performed to date," he said.

"These have now been performed or are in the process of being conducted. They include additional air and soil sampling.

"Once these necessary tests have been carried out we can then make an informed decision as to whether or not there is a potential risk to health and act accordingly," he added.

It was in March that diggers from Alfred McApline moved onto the tip to start excavations in order for Jones Homes to build houses.

The former BNL disused waste tip has been filled with chemical by-products since the 1950s.

As soon as work began, residents in the surrounding area started to complain about a foul stench coming from the tip.

Repeated assurances from all the relevant authorities failed to reassure residents that there wasn't any risk to health.

As time moved on and villagers complained of feeling ill, it emerged that the tip contained white, brown and blue asbestos, arsenic, phenols, hydrocarbons, chromium lead and other metals.

Chris Cowen, a resident who lives nearby the tip finally had enough and a group of residents were voted by villagers to represent them as an action group to work in conjunction with Vale Royal Borough Council.

Villagers, who felt ill were urged to speak to their doctors and ask them to contact the health authority.

Meanwhile a representative from South Cheshire Helath Authority will attend a meeting tonight, Wednesday, to explain what is in the interim report.

Mark said: "I'm hoping that there won't be the need for further tests because a further delay means that people are still suffering from illnesses caused by the tip."

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