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Contamination fears at 10-year west Leeds eyesore site
Campaigners are demanding answers following new fears – sparked by a council comment – about possible contamination at an “eyesore” on people’s doorsteps.
The YEP reported last week that people in and around Broad Lane, Bramley were renewing clean-up calls for the former petrol station near their homes which remains derelict a DECADE after the business closed.
Residents have repeatedly called on joint owners Pace Petroleum and Leeds City Council to sell the land and clean it up.
The council has now promised to “press” the firm for action, and says it will take “enforcement action” if things don’t improve “quickly”. Several calls from the YEP to the firm for response have so far been unanswered.
Campaigner Norah Gibson, who is spearheading the clean-up calls and a petition, said: “A spokesperson for LCC was reported as saying ‘finding a buyer....is not easy in the current economic climate, particularly given possible contamination due to the site’s previous use as a petrol station’. We residents called in the Department of the Environment in January 2000 because of contamination from that site. The site was closed and there was an extensive cleaning operation by independent contractors. We had been given to believe that the site was clean and residential development would be encouraged.
“Perhaps it is NOT the case that the site is clean and we would very much like a public statement from Leeds City Council that the site is safe and no threat to the health of local residents [especially as] there is the sheltered housing close by.”
In response to the calls, Councillor Peter Gruen, Leeds City Council’s environment and neighbourhoods spokesman, said: “Work was carried out at the site in 2002, which confirmed that it is safe and that there is no health threat to local residents from its past use as a petrol station. However, as part of any future development proposals, further surveys will be required to ensure that no remaining fuel/oil is at surface level that would effect any landscaped areas such as new gardens.
“The council is working with Pace Petroleum, who own the site, to identify alternative uses and has reminded them of their maintenance responsibilities. If improvements are not made quickly, we will take enforcement action to make sure that the site is tidied up and security is improved.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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