Commonside
In spring 2025, we began an inspection of the former landfill site at Commonside Alvanley, under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The purpose of the inspection is to assess if the site meets the statutory definition of contaminated land.
We appointed AECOM as environmental consultants to provide the technical assessments required to understand the risks to health and the environment at the site. This will support the Council to decide if the site should be determined as contaminated land. The assessments are carried out in a phased approach, in accordance with land contamination risk management guidance (LCRM).
Phase one
The first phase is to undertake a Preliminary Risk Assessment. This involves a desk-based review of existing information, site visits and preliminary sampling.
This phase is now complete and the preliminary risk assessment report can be seen here:
Phase two
The second phase of work is to carry out a site investigation of the landfill and the surrounding area. This will involve digging exploratory holes, installing monitoring equipment and collecting samples for testing.
It is anticipated that this work will begin in April 2026.
We will write to residents and other stakeholders in advance of the work to outline what will happen and when.
The Environment Agency
As the lead regulator for water quality and resources, the Environment Agency provides us with technical advice and guidance throughout the Part IIA inspection process.
At the request of the Member Task and Finish Group set up by Cabinet in January 2025, officers wrote to the Environment Agency requesting their commitment to support the progress of the Commonside Part IIA investigation in line with the timescales set out in the letter. A copy of the letter can be seen here:
Background information
The former landfill site at Commonside was originally a small, steep-sided valley which was used as a landfill between the late 1950s and the mid-1970s. The site received waste from a range of local industries, including petrochemical companies, cable and vehicle manufacturers and electricity generators. This waste was reported to contain various contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) which do not readily degrade in the environment. After landfilling operations ended, the site returned to rough grassland and has remained like this. A land registry search has determined that there is no known site owner.
From 2004 to 2009 the site was investigated under Part IIA. It was concluded that, based on the assessments undertaken, the site did not meet the definition of contaminated land. Investigations were drawn to a close and periodic site visits have taken place since.
In Autumn 2023, it became apparent that the environmental condition at the former Commonside landfill site had changed and we commenced a site review. Specialist consultants were commissioned to undertake some initial environmental testing. This involved taking water and sediment samples around the site, including from nearby Foxhill Brook. You can review the sampling locations and results here:
Environmental testing, March 2024
On the basis of our review and the tests results, we decided that a Part IIA inspection of the site was now required.
The task and finish group
Following a Motion to Council on 18 July 2024, Cabinet set up a Member working group – a Task and Finish Group - to oversee Council work at the former Commonside landfill site, including:
- reviewing work done and proposed to be done by officers to investigate the site in line with LCRM
- considering and reviewing any determinations made by officers on whether the land meets the statutory definition of contaminated land;
- reporting to Cabinet as appropriate on progress and outcomes
United Utilities
Many residents will be aware that public drinking water is extracted from deep underground at the Foxhill pumping station in Alvanley by United Utilities. To reassure the public, United Utilities have provided us with the following statement:
The water that is extracted from the bore hole at Foxhill is subject to routine testing, as are all drinking water supplies. The quality of this is consistently good. Since being made aware of concerns about PCBs we have conducted enhanced testing, these were also clear. We will continue to carry out these additional tests. We have a proactive catchment management team who work to inform, understand and mitigate risks to raw water quality at all of our abstraction points. The team works closely with the Environment Agency groundwater team to address, mitigate and monitor any risks identified. We have a proactive catchment management team who work to inform, understand and mitigate risks to raw water quality at all of our abstraction points. The team works closely with the Environment Agency groundwater team to address, mitigate and monitor any risks identified’.
Enquiries
If there are any enquiries about the former landfill site, Commonside, please contact environmentalprotection@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk