Pollution row making me sick – developer Council demands proof of clean-up
A developer facing claims one of his schemes is built on contaminated land said the stress of dealing with the issue has affected his health.
David Gahan, who together with Clackmannanshirebased company Maplewood Developments built the Bridge of Earn scheme at the centre of the controversy, this week accused the local authority of overreacting to a single complaint and wilfully ignoring his correspondence.
In March families living in the town’s Scott Way were warned not to let their children or pets dig in their gardens as council officials prepared to investigate whether their properties had been built on contaminated land.
One worried resident said at the time an official had suggested that their homes might even have to be demolished.
A week earlier the council had served a breach of condition notice on Mr Gahan and Maplewood Developments, requiring them to prove the land was decontaminated, which had been a condition of their planning consent.
But Mr Gahan told the PA this week he believes the scare was sparked over a single complaint from one unhappy householder who claimed to have detected diesel in his garden after his home was flooded.
He claimed the council is now Residents fear they could lose their homes determined to find something wrong with the scheme.
“I’ve done nothing wrong, not a thing,” he protested. “I bought that site in good faith and I’ve spent a fortune trying to develop it.
“I employed an engineer to do a report on the site before I even bought it. He supervised every house that was built on the site and signed them off as being built correctly.
“Now, because the council have stirred this up, some people are taking action against him and have put in claims against his insurance.”
Mr Gahan went on to accuse the council of wilfully ignoring letters he sent them, setting out his side of the story as well as alleging one person was to blame for the scare.
“I’ve sent five letters to the council and the enforcement officer chooses to ignore the facts,” he said.
“I think he’s being bullied by a guy who found some diesel in his garden. This is the guy who’s causing all the trouble.”
Claiming his dealings with the council has taken a toll on his health, Mr Gahan added: “I’m away to put my house on the market.
“I’m moving away from Bridge of Earn because I’ve just had enough of the whole thing.”
A local authority spokesperson said: “The council was contacted by a member of the public about an issue regarding verification of a planning condition.
“In the course of our investigation over the last six to eight months the developer has been unable to offer independent verification, as required by the condition.
“As the local planning authority we therefore consider it necessary to determine if there is a risk from contamination in the interests of public health and safety.
“To achieve this breach of conditions notices have been issued to the developer, requiring the investigation to be undertaken to verify if the original conditions have been met.”
I’m moving away from Bridge of Earn because I’ve just had enough of the whole thing