Company aims to tackle contaminated land near Kirkstall Substation

By John Baron

Plans to remove contaminated earth near Kirkstall Substation, off Wyther Lane, have been submitted to Leeds City Council.

Land owners National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) say there are issues with historic asbestos fibres in the ground – but stress they are of low risk to the public.

They have applied to Leeds City Council for environmental remediation works including removal of vegetation and excavation works, footpaths reinstated and associated works.

A planning statement submitted with the application states: “Proposals include voluntary remediation across parts of the site as there is evidence of asbestos fibres within the made ground. The works are considered necessary to address potential risks to human health identified via previous investigation and assessment work.

“To be clear, the risk to human health is low but NGET, as a responsible landowner and noting that the land is publicly accessible, proposes to address this through the enclosed package of works.”

The report adds: “The objective of the works is to render the site suitable for continued use as public open space by creating a ‘pathway break’ and, therefore, mitigating unacceptable risks from shallow soil contaminants.”

It is anticipated that the works will take around 10 weeks to complete. Existing public rights of way will be temporarily suspended and diverted during the works, continuing along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal towpath.

Work includes:

• Removal of vegetation cover (including shrubs, bushes, grasses and surface organic matter) across the remediation areas;
• Retain the established collection of trees, these will be fenced off and protected from the works;
• Installation of a high visibility geotextile across the site;
• Placement of 300mm thick (imported) topsoil capping layer across the site, graded flat; to align with existing levels
• Topsoil capped areas to be seeded with grasses.

The proposals will retain the informal use of the land for outdoor recreation and public access.

The plans can be viewed in full here.