Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy

Local authorities have a legal duty to identify and tackle land defined as 'contaminated land'. Lewes District Council has produced a draft Contaminated Land Strategy (see below), which is submitted for public consultation. The strategy sets out how the Council proposes to assess the risk of contaminated land and how it will take action to remediate any risk.

Identification of contaminated land

Historic Ordnance Survey maps dating from 1878 have been used to identify the location of land uses which, in the past, may have caused contamination. Factors such as geology will also be used to assess the risk. The Council will prioritise areas so that it concentrates its investigations on areas where there is the greatest risk of serious contamination.

Investigations

In the next stage, the Council will carry out further investigations on potentially contaminated sites. If the risk is highlighted following a review of any existing investigative reports, the Council will and work with the site owner to carry out a detailed site investigation. The Council will also, where necessary, consult with other relevant bodies such as the Environment Agency, English Nature, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and English Partnerships.

Seeking remedial action

If the Council considers that the site is causing significant harm or is there is a significant possibility of such harm being caused, it will seek the appropriate remediation. Wherever possible, the Council will seek a voluntary approach to remediation, but will use its statutory powers where necessary.

The Council will advocate a clear and transparent approach with all the parties and groups with an interest in identified sites, supported by a robust and high quality administration procedure.

All information detailing sites identified as contaminated will be available on a public register available from Southover House, Southover Road, Lewes.

Consultation Arrangements

Consultation has been an important part of the development of this strategy. Periodic reviews will take place in accordance with the details laid down within the strategy itself. If you have any comments to make then this process will allow them to be taken into consideration.

The following PDF document shows the Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy
 Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy (953.42kb, coun_contamland.pdf)