Written question WQ100227

As the regulator for contaminated land under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Wrexham County Borough Council has undertaken extensive investigations into both the Llwyneinion Acid Tar Lagoon and the adjacent Monsanto Chemical Waste Tip. Some of this work was funded under the Welsh Government’s Contaminated Land Capital Grant which operated between 2006 and 2011.

In 2008, following detailed scientific risk assessments, the Council – in consultation with the Environment Agency (now Natural Resources Wales) – concluded that although contaminants were present and potential linkages to controlled waters existed, there was no significant pollution or significant contaminant linkages that met the legal definition of ‘contaminated land’.

Further funding was provided by the Welsh Government in 2017 to allow the Council to undertake a more holistic assessment and investigate the combined impacts on controlled waters on these sites. Again, no significant impact was identified.

Subsequent on-going monitoring has not found any significant changes to these assessments and water sampling continues to be taken twice a year.

We recognise that the presence of contamination remains a legitimate concern for local residents. The Welsh Government will continue to work with Wrexham County Borough Council and Natural Resources Wales to keep the evidence and monitoring under review and consider whether further action or support is needed.

More broadly, the Welsh Government is committed to a Wales-wide strategy to progressively restoring post-industrial land and protecting communities from potential risks. This includes strengthening the “polluters pay principle” and ensuring the UK Government makes a fair contribution to remediating the impacts of industrial pollution that pre-dates devolution.