Nuclear waste fears at new housing site

A new housing development near a nuclear waste dump in Derbyshire '˜could put lives at risk'.
Crich campaigner Patrick Cooke is concerned about housing development near former tipsCrich campaigner Patrick Cooke is concerned about housing development near former tips
Crich campaigner Patrick Cooke is concerned about housing development near former tips

That is according to residents who have been concerned about Hilts Quarry in Crich for many years.

The site was used as a dumping ground for low-level nuclear waste for decades by Rolls Royce Marine Power.

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Patrick Cooke, 72, thinks the testing done to make sure the waste is still safe could be affected by the new houses.

Crich campaigner Patrick Cooke is concerned about housing development near former tipsCrich campaigner Patrick Cooke is concerned about housing development near former tips
Crich campaigner Patrick Cooke is concerned about housing development near former tips

He said: “I have lived near this quarry all my life - I know it like the back of my hand.

“For the life of me I can’t understand why this has been granted. Heaven forbid if something nasty were to come out of Hilts Quarry - the stream is going to dilute the water and nobody would know.”

Amber Valley Borough Council approved plans for the development after years of protests by residents.

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It and the Environment Agency say the risks posed are negligible.

Crich campaigner Patrick Cooke is concerned about housing development near former tipsCrich campaigner Patrick Cooke is concerned about housing development near former tips
Crich campaigner Patrick Cooke is concerned about housing development near former tips

The development - which is on Roes Lane in Crich - will be called Devonshire Gardens and will feature 113 houses.

Water from the houses will be diverted into a nearby stream called Fritchley Sough, where Rolls Royce carries out its tests.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said they and Rolls-Royce continue to routinely sample the water quality.

He added: “The development of nearby housing is not expected to cause any adverse impacts on the validity of the data collected by these sampling programmes.”