Council appeals for contamination clues

A council has put out an appeal to its residents for more information about industrial waste heaps along a well-used local footpath.


Falkirk Council is trying to identify the source of the waste, which was dumped along the River Carron Walk Way in Dunipace, near Falkirk, several decades ago.

Environmental Health representatives visited the site in March and fenced off the path to the public while the waste heaps were investigated.

Six locations along the path were tested and two of the results indicated there was contamination.

Now council chiefs are asking local residents who lived in the area during the 1940s to 1960s for help in tracing the company responsible for the problem.

Under contaminated land legislation, the company will be expected to pay for remediation of the site.

The area, known locally as the Gumboo, is opposite a former paper mill and the local area has a long history of paper production.

A council spokeswoman told edie the appeal is open until next Friday, by which time the council hopes to have more information about the contamination.

While the council attempts to trace the company responsible for the waste, the area continues to be fenced off to the public and alternative routes have been opened.

In a statement, Falkirk council told residents: “We apologise for the temporary inconvenience and hopefully we will be able to work together to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.”

Kate Martin

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