'Surely there is something morally wrong here' (From Warrington Guardian)

'Surely there is something morally wrong here'

HEALTH fears of people living on contaminated land - and concerns about the cost of getting it cleaned up - have been raised with council chiefs.

Sankey Bridges residents converged on Evelyn Street Primary School last Thursday to put their questions to the experts.

Substances including arsenic, lead and mercury have been found in the gardens of Roughley Avenue, Broadhurst Avenue and part of Rostherne Close following studies carried out by Warrington Borough Council.

Doreen Jones, of Roughley Avenue, was concerned that she has been eating vegetables from her back garden.

Rita Robertson, director of Public Health at Warrington Primary Care Trust, said: "The Health Protection Agency felt the levels in the soil were so low, they could not see it being a significant risk unless people were ingesting it, mainly through the mouth, some through the skin."

Andrew Gilbert, assistant director for environment and regeneration, told residents that if the polluter is not identified, it falls to the landowner to fix the problem - and this may cost homeowners from four to seven thousand pounds.

Roree Windus, of Roughley Avenue, has been told that levels of lead in her front garden are around 25 times over those deemed acceptable by Government guidelines.

Ms Windus, who bought her house in 2002, argued that when she telephoned the council helpline last week, she was told that the results of the study were available in March 20002, and wanted to know why she wasn't informed then.

Phil Woods, environmental protection and waste manager, said: "We have got the information confirmed now. As we have progressed we have asked 'is this the right time to make a formal declaration?' and I feel that we made the right decision at the right time."

Speaking after the meeting, Ms Windus said: "The council might have us legally but surely there is something morally wrong here.

"If they knew there was something wrong - even a suspicion - we should have known about it."

A meeting is being set up between residents and the Health Protection Agency.