Allotments near former chemical plant designated contaminated

Summarised from LancsLive's report · Updated 23 Oct, 21:32 · Archive

Two allotment sites in Thornton-Cleveleys have been formally designated as contaminated land due to 'forever chemicals' released from a nearby former chemicals plant.

Two allotment sites in Thornton-Cleveleys, on Occupation Road and Sandringham Avenue, have been formally designated as contaminated land. The designation follows an investigation by Wyre Council into the release of PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as 'forever chemicals' which persist in water, soil and air for decades. The Council launched its investigation in 2024 after receiving information from the Environment Agency.

The Environment Agency tested the allotments and found quantities of PFOA, a banned perfluorooctanoic acid compound, present in the land and in produce grown in the soil at levels above recommended limits. PFOA was banned in the UK in 2020 and is classified by the World Health Organisation as a Group 1 carcinogen. Exposure has been linked to serious health risks. AGC Chemicals Europe Ltd, which operates the former ICI works site, estimated that 115 tons of PFOA were released from the site into air, soil, water and landfill between 1950 and 2012.

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• Allotments next to former chemicals plant in Thornton-Cleveleys formally designated 'contaminated'PFOA was banned in the UK in 2020 and is classified by the World Health Organisation as a carcinogenLancsLive · 23 Oct, 18:51

In this story: Wyre Council · Environment Agency · AGC Chemicals Europe Ltd · World Health Organisation · Thornton-Cleveleys · Mitsubishi Group

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