Concerns have been raised about the possible presence of “unexploded ordnance” from the Second World War on a disused and overgrown piece of land which has been sold to a housing developer for more than £5 million.
Turnberry Homes Limited want to transform the derelict land in Alexandria into a residential area. They have issued a design statement which envisages the development of 88 residential units made up of two bedroom apartments; three bedroom semi- detached and four bedroom detached houses.
Members of West Dunbartonshire's infrastructure, regeneration and economic development (IRED) committee approved the sale at a meeting on Wednesday.
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During the committee however concerns were raised about potential contamination on the site as well as the risk of an unexploded item from WW2.
Council officers reassured members that nothing of that nature had been found so far but further investigations by the developer would be carried out.
SNP group leader, councillor Jonathon McColl said: “As with all industrial and previous industrial sites in West Dunbartonshire, there is a risk of finding some sort of contamination.
“I do recall that when Levenbank Terrace, which is at the front of this [development] was taken on, the reason for not developing further at the back was because there was a suspicion that there was an unexploded ordnance from World War Two on that site.
“I wonder if current officers are aware of that and if any investigations have been done. I know that site and soil surveys have been completed but I don’t know if there was anything done that would have detected something like that.”
A council officer explained what studies had been done so far.
Michelle Lynn, asset coordinator, said: “We did carry out a site investigation and that looked at contaminants on the site. The developer will have to carry out their own site investigation to look at depths of foundations etc.
“In terms of ordnance survey and nothing untoward has come up in terms of finding anything that’s unexploded on that site but further investigations will be carried out through the planning process by the developer.”
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