Council confirms results of An Aird Ground Inspection

More than 100 homes and 10 businesses in the An Aird area of Fort William will receive a newsletter this week updating them on the completed land investigation carried out in the area.

This is the final newsletter that The Highland Council has produced informing local people of the precautionary action that the Council took to investigate land at the former landfill.

The Council first informed local people in January 2008 of the investigations being undertaken at An Aird and issued a newsletter in June/July 2008.  A second newsletter was issued in January 2009.

Included in the third and final newsletter is information on the results of the soil and groundwater sampling; and monthly gas monitoring taken from 58 bore-holes in the area.

The results show that there is no significant risk to human health at the site from contaminants in soil. Gas monitoring has found isolated pockets of methane and carbon dioxide in soil at parts of An Aird. The gas does not appear to be widespread across An Aird, and building design within properties will protect against ingress and build-up of landfill gas. There is no current risk to health or buildings.

The Highland Council plan to remove the boreholes at the site and reinstate the ground.

The Council would like to thank residents, tenants and businesses within the An Aird area for their cooperation during the site investigation.

Copies of the newsletter are available at The Highland Council's Fort William Service Point; Fort William Library; Nevis Centre; Lochaber College; and An Aird Shinty Club or can be found on the Council's website at: http://www.highland.gov.uk
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