The only area within the development that has significant levels of contamination is the former waste tip on land immediately east of Marnel Dell copse. The location of this site is shown on the Popley Fields Master Plan. The site was an active landfill between 1960 and the early 1970’s, and is now retained as recreational space, including two football pitches. A sufficient depth of clean material has been provided to ensure no possible contact is made with any waste.
Marnel Dell landfill site
The nature of the landfill site excludes development within a fifty metre radius of the site and the siting of gardens within 10 metres of the landfill. To counter any possible problems arising from its former use, developers have been required to produce specific measures such as a series of vertical French drains, venting trenches and adopted standard local passive gas protection systems, including gas impermeable membranes with sub-floor venting. These have had to be incorporated into any new structure within 250 metres of the site.
Results have indicated that whereas landfill gas was present within the confines of the previous landfill area, gases are not migrating away from the former waste deposits.
