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| David Harrison & Alan Weeks |
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The foreshore at Eling Quay, Totton, is heavily contaminated with poisonous chemicals, requiring a specialist investigation. Council Officers were alerted to the problem late last year when local people reported smells and discolouration of materials.
The area to be examined is just south of Eling Wharf, near to the historic Eling Tide Mill. It is an area frequented by locals and tourists and popular in the summer months for boating, water sports, swimming and fishing.
Under advice from the Environment Agency, the area has been fenced off to prevent public access for health & safety reasons. Now, it seems that the New Forest District Council is to fund a specialist investigation into the scale and likely cause of the contamination. The initial investigation alone is likely to cost £26,500.
The two New Forest District Council ward members for Eling are Alan Weeks and David Harrison. Councillor Weeks says "I was shocked to hear about this problem. I'm hoping that the contamination can be cleaned up and the site returned to its' original use as soon as possible".
Councillor David Harrison, (also Chairman of Totton & Eling Town Council) says, "When I was told that the environment people were investigating a heavy metal problem at Eling, I thought it was just another loud music complaint. Eling Quay is highly valued and an area that needs special attention to improve the environment. I'm really angry that somebody seems to have polluted the site with heavy metals and oil. The investigation should help identify those responsible. We need to make sure that the polluter pays". |
