Worries over drilling blunder
Workers warned to halt boring
Amember of the public came to the rescue after a team began drilling into ground in Cambuslang once contaminated with toxic waste.
Scottish Water intend to create a new sewer overflow near to Dukes Road, which was once the site of a chromium waste dump.
Aprivate firm, Environmental Scientific Group, began investigative drilling but were alerted to the potential danger after a member of the public contacted South Lanarkshire Council.
The investigation discovered suspected traces of chromium in the ground, some three to four metres below the surface, but samples have been taken for laboratory testing to confirm the nature of the substance.
The borehole has now been filled in and sealed.
The site was cleaned up and made safe after extensive work was carried out in 2005 by South Lanarkshire Council.
Bungling workers last week attempted to carry out test boring work - in a Cambuslang park known as a chromium waste hot spot.
The work on Dukes Road was started last Wednesday by a private firm called Environmental Scientific Group, but came to a halt after a member of the public contacted South Lanarkshire Council.
The council then informed Scottish Water, who suspended the work, which was to create a new sewer overflow.
Chromium waste was discovered in the soil there in the early 90s, forcing the closure of the Dukes Road play park sited there.
The area was fenced off for over a decade, while decontamination work took place. This was completed in 2006, with the creation of Quarryfield Park, and new homes were built on another part of the site.
The Reformer was contacted last week by individuals horrified at the work being carried out.
One said: “I couldn’t believe it. Everyone knows the history of this site. What were they thinking?”
A Scottish Water spokesperson said: “Our contractors ESG were sinking a borehole at a proposed location for a combined sewer overflow chamber as part of ground investigation work in Dukes Road, when they halted work after discovering suspected traces of chromium in the ground.
“The substance was discovered 3-4m below ground and has not yet been verified as chromium. There is a history of ground chromium in that local area. Samples have been taken for testing. The borehole has been filled in and sealed. The area where we were working is completely safe. Once we return to site we may have to do further investigations depending on the outcome of the sampling.”
Shirley Clelland, head of fleet and environmental services at South Lanarkshire Council said: “We were alerted by a member of the public that a private company was conducting test boring on behalf of Scottish Water in the area. The member of the public had approached the drillers to inform them there had been previous remediation work undertaken in the area to address potential chromium contamination.
“On investigation we found the company had commenced borehole excavation. However our environmental health staff have requested the company cease activities until discussions have taken place regarding further works on the land. The borehole has been sealed and all excavated soil removed for analysis.”