Health and safety concerns have been raised about the land remediation work that’s under way at the old gas works in Bath, with reports of bad smells emanating from the site.
Work is under way at the former gas works
Nine hundred new homes will be built along with a riverside park at the Bath Western Riverside Phase 2 site.
The brownfield site is owned by Bath & North East Somerset and developer Berkeley Homes, and contractors have begun land remediation.
Bath residents have been complaining of an “acrid and bitumen-like smell”. One told the Bath Echo: “This problem appears to coincide with the start of excavations to remove polluted soil from the southern part of the former Bath Gas Light and Coke company site by the Windsor Bridge.
“Before the advent of North Sea supplies, gas for domestic use was manufactured as a by-product of the process of making coke from coal. This was one of the most polluting industries of its time.
“As well as releasing smoke and toxic chemicals into the air and watercourses, it also created soil and groundwater pollution, including a range of highly toxic chemicals.
Remediation work at the former gas works at Bath Riverside
“Building safely on such sites requires the removal of soil to a depth of tens of feet, together with decontamination of groundwater. All of this material has to be transported off-site and held in some other location.
“The soil removal under way at the moment in Locksbrook appears to be being carried out without any precautions for either the workers on site, or the residents of Bath.
“On several site visits over a number of days I have seen no breathing apparatus for workers, no water sprays to keep down dust, and no apparent precautions taken for the safe transport of the material along public roads.”
He said the site is close to the children’s play area in Royal Victoria Park, to a primary school and many homes, adding: “It is extremely concerning, that this site, long known to be highly polluted ground, appears to be being worked on without apparently, any care for the safety of workers or residents.”
This week, Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for neighbourhood services, told the Echo: “We are aware of residents’ concerns and we have been liaising with the contractor and visited the site.
“Our specialist officers are satisfied with the works and associated monitoring to date and that the contractors are managing risks.
“Gas work site remediation can often result in intermittent periods of unpleasant odours and smells being present when works are being carried out.
“In addition to the site monitoring and general damping down on site, the contractor is carrying out additional dust and odour suppression and is continuing to monitor for the duration of the project.
“The main works in the areas where we anticipate odours should be completed in two to three weeks, but there will be intermittent periods where odours are present.”
Any concerns residents have can be reported at https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/report-noise-pollution-or-other-environmental-nuisances
