 |
 |
Thanks to everyone who has responded to this. It appears the way forward may be to develop a questionnaire which can be sent out to developers planning on agricultural land. Many of those of you who responded used this method to determine more specific previous use. Obviously there is the possibility a developer will just tick 'No' for every question, so a site visit afterwards may be a good idea. If the questionnaire or site visit lead to a suspicion of risk then a more detailed desk survey will likely be insisted on. Thanks again, Neil > -----Original Message----- > From: Jonathan Parr [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: 29 March 2006 08:18 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Development on agricultural land > > I agree with Neil. > > I have been looking at natural contamination, and one thig I have noted > formt he BGS Geochemical Atlas is that areas of agricultural land were > heavily contaminated with heavy metals for no apparent reason. It > transpires that waste was ploughed into the topsoil as some sort of ground > conditioner or improver (!). Also, don't forget that sewage sludge waste > is still put onto agricultural land. > > If the development is going to be a house or a school (or some other > situation where lots of lovely little critical receptors may be) then a > DTS should be undertaken; and possibly limited sampling. Remember; it is > the DEVELOPER who has to prove the site is "Safe for Use", not the LA! > > See attached article for more on the first paragraph (sorry for the > highlighting!) > > Jon > > -----Original Message----- > From: Contaminated Land Management Discussion List > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Neil > Parry > Sent: 27 March 2006 09:50 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Development on agricultural land > > > Neil/Michael > > In my experience agricultural land may be just as contaminated as > industrial due to the possibility of unmanaged landfilling operations. > Prior to 1974 agricultural land was often used for landfill, > particularly where "landscaping" was required to provide more level > fields etc. > > As I have come across an unlisted site that had items such as fridges, > cars and domestic waste buried beneath what appeared to be "Greenfield" > I would urge caution when approaching such sites. > > As with all development sites a good Phase 1 desk study is generally > required. > > Neil Parry > > -----Original Message----- > From: Contaminated Land Management Discussion List > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Moore, > Michael > Sent: 27 March 2006 09:10 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Development on agricultural land > > Neil, > > I believe there is a CLAN note that says generally speaking agricultural > land should not be considered as potentially contaminated unless you > have good reason that it could be e.g. pesticide use/storage, lead shot > from shooting scattered around a field. > > Generally speaking we deal with such applications on a case by case > basis, if the application was situated on farm buildings we probably > would put a requirement on because there is a possibility the buildings > used for storage of fuels, fertilisers etc, if open fields probably not, > but maybe it is worth giving PPS23 a close read on this one to make sure > any policy you develop is in line with this. > > Hope this helps > > Michael Moore > > -----Original Message----- > From: Contaminated Land Management Discussion List > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Brown, > Neil > Sent: 24 March 2006 15:00 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Development on agricultural land > > > Hi everyone, > > We are receiving an increasing number of planning applications for > conversion of farmland/steadings into residential developments with > gardens. None of these sites are being flagged up by our PartIIA > computer model as requiring further investigation, as clearly in their > current use they are unlikely to be causing any significant harm. Having > searched high and low (sort of!) I can't seem to find any guidance on > priority contaminants or working practice for such sites - possibly > because they vary so widely in nature. > > My question is, do any of you have a defined policy for dealing with > such applications or are they dealt with on a case-by-case basis? I > wouldn't want to insist on site investigation for every bit of > agricultural land which is proposed for development, but then again I > wouldn't want to find a garden had been previously used for sheep > dipping! > > Any help would be much appreciated. > > Neil Brown > Contaminated Land Officer > West Lothian Council > > ________________________________________________________________________ > This message, together with any attachments, is sent subject to the > following statements: > > 1. It is sent in confidence for the addressee only. It may > contain legally privileged information. The contents are > not to be disclosed to anyone other than the addressee. > Unauthorised recipients are requested to preserve this > confidentiality and to advise the sender immediately. > 2. It does not constitute a representation which is legally > binding on the Council or which is capable of constituting > a contract and may not be founded upon in any proceedings > following hereon unless specifically indicated otherwise. > > http://www.westlothian.gov.uk > > ________________________________________________________________________ > This email has been scanned for all viruses by the MessageLabs SkyScan > service on behalf of West Lothian Council. For more information on a > proactive anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, > visit http://www.messagelabs.com > ________________________________________________________________________ > > Scanned by MailDefender - managed email security from intY - > www.maildefender.net > > Geotechnical Engineering Ltd, Rock House, Lower Tuffley Lane, Gloucester. > GL2 5DT > Registered office, No. 700739, England > Telephone: 01452 527743 > Facsimile: 01452 507435 > www.geoeng.co.uk > > This message is intended only for the named recipient. If you are not the > intended recipient you are notified that disclosing, copying, distributing > or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is > strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error please > notify Geotechnical Engineering Ltd immediately. The recipient should > check this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses. > Geotechnical Engineering Ltd accepts no liability for any damage caused by > any virus transmitted by this email. > > Scanned by MailDefender - managed email security from intY - > www.maildefender.net > > > Email Disclaimer is: > http://www.blackpool.gov.uk/EmailDisclaimer/ > This message has been scanned by F-Secure Anti-Virus for Microsoft > Exchange as part of the Council's e-mail and internet policy. > > > ________________________________________________________________________ > This email has been scanned for all viruses by the MessageLabs SkyScan > service on behalf of West Lothian Council. > For more information on a proactive anti-virus service working > around the clock, around the globe, visit http://www.messagelabs.com > ________________________________________________________________________ > << File: Heavy metal Contaminated Soils Associated with Drained Fenland in > Lancashire, England, UK.pdf >> ________________________________________________________________________ This message, together with any attachments, is sent subject to the following statements: 1. It is sent in confidence for the addressee only. It may contain legally privileged information. The contents are not to be disclosed to anyone other than the addressee. Unauthorised recipients are requested to preserve this confidentiality and to advise the sender immediately. 2. It does not constitute a representation which is legally binding on the Council or which is capable of constituting a contract and may not be founded upon in any proceedings following hereon unless specifically indicated otherwise. http://www.westlothian.gov.uk ________________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned for all viruses by the MessageLabs SkyScan service on behalf of West Lothian Council. For more information on a proactive anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, visit http://www.messagelabs.com ________________________________________________________________________