Operation toxic clean up almost complete
Work to clear contaminated land in Blanefield a success
Work to clean up contaminated land in a residential area of Blanefield is almost at an end.
Parts of the site of the former printworks in the village, now a housing area, were identified as meeting the legal definition of contaminated land in 2012.
The 13 households affected were faced with a bill of almost £600,000 to clear their gardens of toxic chemicals including arsenic and lead.
But the Scottish Government, UK Government and Stirling Council then stepped in to provide £300,000, £255,000 and £125,000 respectively to cover the costs and the remediation work began in June 2014.
The remediation works involved the removal and safe disposal of the top 600mm of the exposed contaminated soil and its replacement with ‘clean’ soil.
Stirling Council’s environment and housing committee heard this week that the programme of work was now almost complete and that, while home owners would be encouraged to complete some of the work on their own gardens, the council was likely to supply materials such as top dressing and grass to maintain consistency with the original works specification.
Officials said: “As a result of the remediation works most gardens experienced drainage problems. Specialist consultants were retained to investigate the problem and provide a specification for corrective drainage works.
“A contractor for this was appointed in March 2016.
“The drainage works were performed from May to October 2016 and are now largely complete.
“The lawn aeration works at one property were postponed until Spring 2017 to allow sufficient grass growth.
“Minor snagging and repair works - such as fence repair, stone removal and cracked pavers - were performed in December with some to be completed in the early part of this year.”
The officers - who highlighted the time and effort that had been put into rectifying the issue by the local community - added that Scottish Agriculture College (SAC) Consulting has inspected all the properties in December and had recommended additional topdressing, overseeding and general “weed and feed” products at most gardens in the spring.
“Where possible,” they said, “owners will be encouraged towards self-help.
“As part of the contract, following remediation, the gardens were partially reinstated by the council with the provision of grassed lawns and access paths.
“The owners were issued with a grant for the reinstatement of the garden features that were removed in the course of the remediation works.”
Committee chair Councillor Danny Gibson said: “This is a long but ultimately positive story in terms of supporting the residents. I would echo my thanks to the community and to our officers.”
Each owner is being issued with a pack containing documents and plans confirming details of the works carried out, soil testing certificates and the new status of their land which they can retain in the event they might sell on their house in future.
The Victorian calico printworks, closed at the end of the 19th century, but no contamination was recorded when current properties were built on the ground in the 1950s. The UK government originally said it would not waive tax costs associated with the clean-up.
Both Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford and the then Stirling MP Anne McGuire, however, successfully argued that residents should not have to pay the cleanup costs.