There’s a call for the full report into the extent of toxic waste at the site adjacent controversial proposed housing development at Nottingham City Airport ( Tollerton ) to be made available to residents directly affected.
There’s concern that the area – part of plans for 4,000 new homes – will be built on land contaminated with disused aviation oil and industrial waste – including radium, a radio-active material historically used in luminous paint for aircraft dials.
Vistry Group purchased the airfield land from Truman Aviation and are currently fencing it off.
Rushcliffe Labour councillor Penny Gowland is raising the issue at Thursday’s meeting of Rushcliffe Borough Council. She’s pressing for a report by environment health experts – commissioned by the authority several years ago – into the extent of toxic waste, to be made more widely available and local residents consulted.
“There’ll be understandable concerns for residents currently living nearby, but there’s also the matter of the likely impact and cost of cleaning the site ,” said Councillor Gowland.
“Some local gardeners and residents are asking ’is it safe to grow and eat our vegetables’.
“A lot of toxic waste would have been dumped underground at the airport many years ago, but we don’t fully know the extent of any potential health issues.
“The council has sat on its environmental health report and its findings for too long,” added Councillor Gowland.
The environment concerns are the latest worry to affect plans that involve closing the current airfield, which was used as a RAF base during the Second World War.
A Freedom of Information request sought by a residents’ action group provided the first hint of contaminated land and the presence of radium.
They fear disturbing the land will release toxic elements. Rushcliffe Borough Council, as the planning authority is waiting for a masterplan from landowners and developers Vistry Group.