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01 Apr 2000

The new contaminated land regime, introduced today, will still leave people's health at risk,Friends of the Earth has warned.

FOE has criticised the new system for:

• inadequate “remediation” (clean-up) standards for polluted land,
• problems with the Environment Agency and local authorities in policing the system, and
• the likelihood that local authorities may turn a blind eye to contamination to avoid being saddled with expensive clean-up costs.

Inadequate standards. The new regime is based on the principle of “suitable for use”. This implies different clean-up standards depending on the use of the land (e.g. buildings, playing fields, etc). This ignores real life risks from contact with contaminated soils, could lead to remediation to low value uses rather than high value (e.g. car-parks rather than playing fields) and also leaves future generations with the problems of contaminated land

In-effective policing. A recent report by FOE and local campaigners of a housing project in Enfield revealed that the Council failed to adequately police a clean-up operation at a heavily polluted former armaments factory. The Environment Agency itself has accepted that the site is not safe, even though people are living in houses on it. The Agency itself is also being heavily criticised for its failure to take control of a contaminated land site near ICI Runcorn where people are being moved from their houses because of gases invading their houses [contacts available].

Ignoring sites. Local authorities have to assess their areas for contaminated land and pay for clean-ups where polluters and land-owners cannot be identified or cannot afford it themselves.Councils have little money to pay for these “orphan sites” and may simply overlook their existence.

Mike Childs, Senior Pollution Campaigner, at Friends of the Earth said:
 “Michael Meacher deserves applause for at last tackling the thorny problem of contaminated land. Previous Environment Ministers have avoided the issue like the plague. But serious concerns remain about the regime. We need an independent body to oversee the work of both local authorities and the Environment Agency. The quality of life in our cities depends on reclaiming derelict land for housing, open space and wildlife. But we must do this in a way that doesn't threaten people's health.”

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