Contaminated land report clears traveller site

The Highland Council has released a report of the investigation into a gypsy/traveller site and has concluded that there is no unacceptable risk from landfill gases.


The site is located at what was potentially contaminated land at Stadium Road in Inverness. The investigation commenced in November 2009 and has been carried out over the last year.

The report identified the presence of former landfill waste under a capping layer of natural soils or gravel. However, although the cap is considered to be of insufficient depth, or absent in places across the site, no immediate risk to the residents or their property has been identified.

The site is part of a former refuse tip/landfill estimated to have been operational between at least 1919 and 1965 based on historical maps and council records. These records had suggested that the area was reclaimed by landfilling with various materials including commercial, municipal and burnt wastes.

The inspection included the installation of a number of boreholes for soil testing and groundwater and soil gas monitoring around the gypsy/traveller site.

The report has recommended that to determine whether significant pollution of the water environment is occurring from the former waste, a study of the wider area will be necessary.

The Council will be looking at these land condition results and considering the future use of the site and the surrounding areas.

Although no immediate risk has been identified from the garden soils or the communal area, the council has asked residents not to grow or eat garden produce.

They also recommend limiting digging in their gardens or communal areas, and to wash their hands following contact with soils and waste.

Alison Brown

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