People are being asked to have their say on how land in County Durham, which may be contaminated, is dealt with.
Durham County Council has launched an eight-week consultation on its revised Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy.
Agreed by Cabinet in October 2010, the current strategy, which the council is legally required to produce, is now due for renewal.
The aim is to gather feedback on the updated strategy, which outlines how potentially contaminated land sites across the county will be identified, inspected and assessed between 2015 and 2020.
It sets out how the council will meet its legal responsibilities concerning contaminated land and takes into account new guidance issued by DEFRA, which includes:
• Sites will be put into four new risk categories.
• Normal levels of contaminants, such as those caused by common human activities rather than former industrial uses, should not be considered to cause land to be contaminated unless there is a particular reason otherwise.
• Changes to how sites which have been assessed are reported.
Around 7,000 potentially contaminated land sites have been identified for inspection across the county in total. These have been prioritised using a dedicated data management system.
However, there is no evidence to suggest that these will be contaminated land in future but they have been identified for inspection because historically they have been used for industrial activity, for example colliery and coke works, gas works, landfills and/or factories.
Joanne Waller, head of environment, health and consumer protection, Durham County Council, said: “We welcome views from the general public and key stakeholders in helping us to shape our strategy in dealing with contaminated land inspections over the next five years.
“There are a variety of ways people can get in touch with us so we would urge people to make sure they have their say.”
To read the strategy online go to www.durham.gov.uk/consultation
People can have their say by:
• Completing an online survey signposted from www.durham.gov.uk/consultation
• Emailing landqualitysurvey@durham.gov.uk
• Writing to: Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy Consultation, Durham County Council, Neighbourhood Services, Environment, Health and Public Protection, Annand House, Meadowfield, Durham, DH7 8RS.
The closing date of the consultation is Monday 31 August 2015. Anyone with further queries can call 03000 261 016.