Around 42 acres of land has been identified in Fulford, reports the York Press.

The land sits next to the River Ouse and is believed to have been used as a rubbish tip for builders’ rubble during the 1950s and household waste in the 1970s.

Council officials are now considering a grant offered to investigate the area.

Defra wants the council to accept £38,636 to carry out a detailed analysis of the land.

A preliminary investigation in 2007 found that landfill gas was present in the ground.

Mike Southcombe, environmental protection manager for the council, told the newspaper he believed there was no risk to human health.

“Based on all the information we have at present, there is no risk to human health or the environment,” he said.

In other news, the Dorset Echo reports that objectors have raised issues about the plans to build four new homes on possible contaminated land in Portland.

The land, which Medway Homes wants to develop, is within 50 metres of a known landfill site.

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