Blackstone, Offerton development - contaminated land

Dear NPS Stockport Limited,

The 1996 contamination report by J H
Blake states:-

3.5 In each of the other pits a considerable quantity of domestic
waste comprising black plastic bags ....was found under the surface
clay layer.

3.6 The fill was noxious and generally water was met at the base of
the pits dug through the fill.

3.7 The waste was typically 1.0 and 2.0 metres deep but in pit 6 it
was not fully penetrated at 4.1 metres.

3.9 The sides of the pits dug through the domestic waste became
unstable and quickly collapsed.

4.2 The trial pits findings have exposed a considerable quantity of
domestic refuse which has been deposited over much of the site area
investigated.

4.5 The nature of the lanfilling was extremely variable and from
the noxious odours eminating from the disturbed infill it is likely
to consider (sic?) putrescible matter and therefore possible (sic)
high levels of methane and carbone dioxide.

4.6 The presence of held water in many of the pits is a possible
source for the escape of leachate from the landfill into local
watercourses or aquefers.

4.8 However, given the need for extensive further testing and
monitoring.....

4.9 The findings have revealed a potentially serious contamination
problem effecting (sic) the majority of the site.

4.10 The initial investigations proposals and costings are now
considered totally inadequate to fully investigate the levels of
contamination present both within the fill and from possible land
gas generation and egress.

4.1 The ownership of such site would entail significant
responsibility for ensuring that through underground migration
there was no escape of landgas or leachants into adjacent property
or land.

4.12 We would strongly recommend the abandonment of the scheme
proposed or alternatively the undertaking of a far more exhaustive
survey to fully identify the extent of contamination and the
scheduling of any remedial measures necessary to make safe the
land, bearing in mind its proposed end use.

This land is being reconsidered for development. Please let me have
memos, letters, emails, handwritten or other notes of meetings,
minutes etc regarding the contamination on this site held by your
company.

With regards to the toxic waste dump school at North Reddish with
which NPS was also involved, everyone tried to pretend the site was
not contaminated when it was entirely contaminated with lead,
arsenic and brown asbestos. So, I need to keep an eye on NPS
Stockport and how they carry out their work on behalf of Stockport
Council.

Yours faithfully,

Sheila Oliver

Dear Enquiries,

This is odd because you have previously, kicking and screaming,
responded to FOI requests from me. I shall take this matter up with
Norfork Council.

I need to go into the financial details of your company now. You
have had very large amounts of public money and seem to be giving
the council taxpayers of Stockport poor value for that money - I
refer for example to the £550,000 property service fees for the
toxic waste dump school, which didn't even include the ludicrously
high architects' fees of £165,000.

We need to shine a light on NPS and I intend to do just that.

Yours sincerely,

Sheila Oliver