By Gareth Cross
Large quantities of contaminated material unearthed during the refurbishment of Derry's Brandywell Stadium do not pose a risk to public safety, Council insisted this weekend.
A safety professional had contacted the Derry News to warn that a large quantity of hazardous waste was still 'lying open' at the ground, which was set to re-open to the public this weekend for dog-racing trials.
He said Council had made no provision to remove the material, and that there was no hazardous waste disposal facility of the type needed to process such waste in the North - and that the waste would have to be transported out of the country.
He said the waste was lying 'exposed'.
The man, who asked to remain anonymous said: "It includes oil-contaminated soils, and coal-tar contaminants.
"This is toxic if airborne and can be carcinogenic. The material has been sitting unsecured for months but it is particularly concerning now as the first races [greyhound trials] at the new stadium are going to get underway.
"No precautions have been taken to secure the waste. It is not contained, not lined, not covered. It is not marked off as hazardous waste in any way. It will require proper disposal away from this country.
"The council have dragged their heels repeatedly on this matter - and there are legitimate concerns for public safety."
The Derry News immediately passed on the man's concerns to Derry City and Strabane District Council, who insisted that the waste posed 'no risk to public safety'.
A council spokesperson advised that 'the contaminated material uncovered at the Brandywell site is understood to be residual material from the site’s previous usage as a tar works, and will be removed, in keeping with environmental regulations and under the guidance of the relevant authorities, by a specialist contractor and overseen by a Council appointed specialist environmental consultant'.
'No risk'
The Council spokesperson reassured the public that 'this work poses no risk to public safety and that its officers are continuing to work closely with the NI Environment Agency throughout this process'.
"It is anticipated that the material will be removed within six-to-eight weeks and that in the interim the process is regularly reviewed and monitored," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that work on the overall redevelopment of the £7m new Brandywell Stadium and Regeneration Project was continuing to progress well 'with contractors pulling out all the stops with a view to having the facility completed by March'.
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