Cheshire West and Chester Council agrees Commonside Motion

Cheshire West and Chester Council passed a motion last night (18 July) for Cabinet to set up a cross-party task and finish group to investigate the Commonside Tip area, near Alvanley.

The motion, amended by Councillor Christine Warner, Cabinet Member for Homes, Planning and Safer Communities, proposed that the Council set up a cross-party task and finish group to examine in detail the approach to this area as well as important wider issues, with the aim of producing a report to Cabinet within six months.

The task and finish group will include a public evidence session and input from independent witnesses and members of the public, and independent oversight from a suitably qualified practitioner, in addition to elected members of the Council.

Councillor Warner said:

“Based on assessments in 2009, the Commonside Tip site did not meet the definition of Contaminated Land.  Since then, periodic site visits have taken place.

“In autumn 2023 our Environmental Protection team started a review of the site in light of fresh concerns raised, linked to changes in the drainage system. A specialist consultant was commissioned to undertake sampling in spring 2024, to understand the current environmental condition.

“This new motion will provide oversight and transparency for the new investigation. We are concerned that legislation does not suitably allow for appropriate assessment of the long-term downstream impact of PCB releases to the environment.  It is also a concern that, for sites where there is no liable party identified, funding that was once available to local authorities to fund an investigation, and to remediate land if it was determined to be contaminated, was withdrawn in 2014 and is no longer available. “

The Council is currently working with the Environment Agency and UK Health Security Agency to ensure that further planned assessments are undertaken to the appropriate standard, are technically and scientifically robust and maintain a consistent testing approach. Investigation work will be undertaken in accordance with the Contaminated Land Regulations (issued under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990),

Commonside Tip is located northeast of Alvanley village, near Helsby, Cheshire. The site was originally a small, steep-sided valley which was used as a landfill between the late 1950s and the mid-1970s.

The site received waste from a range of local industries, including petrochemical companies, cable and vehicle manufacturers and electricity generators. This waste was reported to contain various contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenols (PCBs) which do not readily degrade in the environment. After landfilling operations ended, the site returned to rough grassland and has remained like this until today.

Details about the Commonside Tip are available on the Council’s website and this information will be updated as further details become available.