Families fears over polluted gardens

Worried families on a contaminated housing estate in the Black Country today spoke of their concerns after it was revealed 46 more gardens contain potentially dangerous metals, tars and chemicals.

People living in Brookthorpe Drive and Oakridge Drive said they were worried about house prices falling and growing vegetables in their gardens after it emerged their gardens were polluted.

The homes were built in the 1970s on the site of Willenhall Town Gas Works, which shut a decade earlier. It is believed the site was not properly cleared before builders moved on site.

Earlier this year, it was confirmed "significant contamination" was found at soil in 43 properties in neighbouring Kemble Close and Brookthorpe Drive, bringing the total to 89.

Heavy metals, tar and a gas manufacturing by-product known as Blue Billy have been found about a foot below the surface of the ground.

Glyn and Margaret Bailey, have lived in Brookthorpe Drive for 35 years.

Margaret, aged 66, said: "We are angry that no-one brought this to light before we moved in, someone must have known.

"Up one end of our garden, we seem to be losing our plants, they keep dying off — whether it's because the roots have gone so far into the soil now, I don't know."

Frank, 69, added: "We have reared our family here, and we might be thinking about downsizing, but the house won't sell with this going on. You need a certificate to say the contamination is clear before you can sell the house."

Walsall Council said it was now looking at getting some of the properties legally declared as contaminated land, so the clear-up process can begin.

Angeline Hopton, aged 38, lives in Oakridge Drive with her husband, Tom, and children Harrison, eight, and Ben, 11.

The family is currently having the porch rebuilt and has had to tell contractors to dispose of any soil only in authorized locations.

She said: "I don't know what's going to happen, it's very unsettling.

"I wouldn't buy a house with contaminated soil, because I have children."

Gary Hassell, 47, of Brookthorpe Drive, said he has lived in the road for 13 years in a privately rented property.

He said: "A few years ago I was digging a pond and when I got really deep I could see blue veins in the soil. You don't think anything of it at the time, but that could be the contamination.

"We have got the opportunity to buy the property but we won't even consider it with this going on."

Walsall Council has insisted there is "no immediate health risk" to residents. The Health Protection Agency and NHS Walsall have issued residents with letters and held information sessions.