Concern over ‘toxic’ chemicals at potential Cambridge railway site

The land was previously used as a landfill site

A campaign group claims the site for a potential new train station could be on “toxic” land. While Cambridge South has just opened in Cambridge this week, there are plans for a potential fourth train station in the city.

Last year, East West Rail put forward plans for a Cambridge East station, which could be based near Cambridge Airport. The land where the station could be built has raised concerns from the Campaign to Protect Rural England – Cambridgeshire and Peterborough (CPRE).

The land was previously used as an industrial and domestic waste landfill site. The CPRE feels the land could still contain “toxic” materials.

CPRE spokesperson Ian Ralls said: “Because of the unconsolidated nature of the landfill’s contents, buildings cannot be placed directly on top of the former landfill. Any construction will require driving piles through the contents of the landfill to anchor them to the bedrock.

“Developing this site risks disturbing the contamination and causing harm to public health, the environment, groundwater and nearby watercourses. The unknown nature of the contaminants on site risks releasing a Pandora’s Box of toxic compounds into the wider surface and water environments.”

Ian believes the proposals could be a “dangerous project”. He added: “As little is known about what compounds are contained in the site, the authorities cannot plan in advance how to counter any potentially negative effects resulting from their release into the atmosphere.”

The CPRE claims the site could contain Chromium VI and Cyanide, which are both highly toxic chemical compounds.

Natalie Wheble, external affairs director for the East West Railway said the company is “aware” that the site in question was previously used for landfill and “extensive desktop studies and site investigations” had taken place to understand the conditions of the site.

She added: “Cambridge East has been identified as our preferred location for the proposed station because it best meets the project’s operational and engineering requirements. The safety of our workforce, future passengers, local communities and the environment is our absolute priority.

“We will only confirm this site as the location for the station if we are satisfied that there is a robust and feasible remediation strategy in place, and that approach has been accepted by both the Environment Agency and the relevant Environmental Health authority.”

Natalie said the company is working with specialist consultants who have previously “successfully remediating former landfill sites” and they are making “good progress towards identifying a solution that would allow the station to be delivered safely and responsibly”.

Natalie added: “If we are unable to demonstrate that the site can be remediated to the required standard, we will not proceed with it and will instead pursue an alternative location for the station. We expect to provide a further update on this work in the autumn.”