AN APPLICATION to build homes on a ‘contaminated’ former reservoir in Monmouth has resurfaced after four years.

The previously heavily criticised plans were put off to give time for an Intrusive Ground Investigation Report to be written which was published at the end of 2015.

The 2012 application proved unpopular at the time. It requests permission to demolish the vicarage at Wyesham and build nine houses on the former Welsh Water site.

The 145 metre by 33 metre site was formerly made up of filter beds and a reservoir according to 1969 maps, with Dixton Vicarage at the northerly end of the site appearing on maps dated 1977.

A 107 signature petition was presented in 2012 to Planning Officer Anne Yearsley requesting an independent investigation into contamination on the land.

According to locals, the reservoir on the site was used to dispose of various wastes, including tyres, industrial waste, sawdust and asbestos cement. The report states: “This is said to have ceased in 1994 when Welsh Water levelled and top-soiled the site.”

The 2015 report states that trial pits were dug in 2015 and the soil was sampled for contamination.

Out of the 16 samples, two recorded the presence of asbestos. The report concluded that remaining contaminant levels are not considered to represent high levels of contamination and although would be suitable for retention in a commercial land use, would not be suitable “for retention in the upper 600mm of garden areas of a residential site”. Wholesale removal of this soil is “not considered sustainable and a layer of clean soil and protective membrane would be a viable solution” the report concluded, suggesting that a note in the deeds of the new houses would make future residents aware of the existence of the cover layers and nature of the underlying soils.

A number of online comments refer to the negative impact the site will have on residents and the wildlife.

In 2013, Monmouth Town Council recommended refusal of the application.

The amended plan will now be assessed by Monmouthshire County Council’s planning committee.