Big costs over contaminated soil

CONTAMINATED waste found near a Bingham playing field will cost the town council about £118,000.

The bill for getting rid of the soil alone could be as much as £92,000.

Councillors are planning to take the money from the town's £1m Community Chest, which is earmarked for building a community hall – although this will be discussed in two weeks.

Coun Maureen Stockwood said: "I regard it as unfortunate. Something's occurred which we didn't foresee.

"I'm sure we can work towards a community hall – the money we've got has been invested and has a good rate of return so it had grown, but we've not been able to spend it on a community hall because we haven't got the land."

Bingham does not have a community hall and big meetings must be held out of town.

A survey by Rushcliffe Borough Council last summer found potentially dangerous levels of chemicals including arsenic, cyanide and lead at the allotments in Moor Lane, and this site has been fenced off.

The allotments, on the site of an old gas works, have been used for 30 years and the town council are still seeking a new site for users.

Contamination was also found around Butt Field playing field including the old tennis courts. This land has been treated, with contaminated soil disposed of and fresh soil imported, and is now being extended and developed. The development, which includes a new pavilion, is under way and is expected to be completed in March.

The chairman of the policy and resources committee, Coun Francis Purdue-Horan, said: "It is right that we allocate funds from the Community Chest to meet public health regulations for what will be a major community asset for Bingham."

This will be discussed at a full town council meeting on January 13.

delia.monk@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk