Canalside 'contaminated dumping ground' concern

The route of the former Hereford to Gloucester canal is now covered in rubble

Building waste and rubble could be contaminating a canal and wetland, volunteers at a nearby park fear.

Putting up homes on a brownfield site, a former industrial estate in Hereford, was championed as a green and sustainable way of tackling the housing shortage by developers Stonewater.

Part of the project involved restoring a stretch of the former Hereford & Gloucester canal alongside the homes and turning it into a greenway for walking and cycling. But two-metre high mounds of soil, concrete and metal have been left on top of the route, which has left some residents concerned.

A Stonewater spokesman said there was no hazardous waste on the site and the mounds of earth would be landscaped.

Kevin Gilber and Dave Quine are concerned the local environment is at risk

Dave Quine volunteers at Aylestone Park, next door to the College Road site.

The park is owned by Herefordshire Council, but the maintenance and improvement work is carried out by residents.

He said he was concerned toxic waste could leach out into the canal and earth of the park from the building site next door which used to be a tileworks and scrapyard. The land is classified as contaminated.

"This is meant to be a nice green corridor which will show the line of the former canal and provide a route for cycling and walking," fellow volunteer Kevin Gilbert said.

"Instead, what we've got is a pile of contaminated soil and waste piled two metres high on top of a beautiful site."

Both men were concerned any waste from the site could harm wildlife.

"Last year we saw kingfishers and otters, this year the water is a grey colour and there's far fewer birds," Mr Gilbert said.

Volunteers in Aylestone Park are concerned about the state of the canal there

The £23m housing project was championed as a way of delivering energy-efficient homes quickly.

People were set to move in a year ago but the builders, ilke developments in Yorkshire, went into administration last year.

"We want to reassure people that there is no hazardous waste on site and, if we were to find any, we would remove it in a safe manner," said James Bradbury, director of development operations at Stonewater.

"The mounds of earth have been tested and this will be landscaped.

"It will look really nice one day, it's just unfortunate that it doesn't look great at the moment.

"The good news is that we're back on site and we hope to get our first customers in by Christmas."

The homes were due to be completed in the Autumn of 2023

Stonewater told the BBC they would monitor any signs of possible pollution and pay for more tests to be done on the canal in Aylestone Park.

Under targets set by the new government, Herefordshire Council is expected to build more than 1,300 new homes each year.

"It's very very frustrating, we have families which need homes," said the council's deputy leader Elissa Swinglehurst.

"It's frustrating for the council, but more importantly for the families who really need somewhere to live."

Tony Higgins says he's confident the canal will be restored

The planning permission for the site included a requirement for the developers to restore the line of the former canal and create a green corridor for cycling and walking.

The stretch of land is due to be handed to the Hereford & Gloucester Canal Trust once the homes are built.

The BBC arranged for the volunteers to get together with Stonewater and Herefordshire Council to share their concerns.

"You have to be hopeful, but it will take time," said Tony Higgins from the canal trust.

"As long as we keep on making little bits of progress, that's good.

"It will be a wonderful green corridor once it's done, and I'm confident that it will be done eventually."

Developers Stonewater say the building waste will be removed

"My concern is, will it be sorted?" said Mr Quine. "I'm not reassured."

"It's a great project and it could be a wonderful greenway from here into the city centre for people to enjoy," said Mr Gilbert.

"We just have to hope that it happens. "