HOW toxic is a former gasworks site in Poole set to be re-developed for a massive housing project?

Residents living near the Pitwines site fear lethal materials such as asbestos and arsenic could be unwittingly released into the ground, air and Poole harbour when work starts on a proposed 534 home housing project. The remains of massive concrete foundations will need to be dug up and crushed and a highly toxic separator tank filled with decades-worth of "oily crud" cleared away.

Other potential contaminants are also thought to be present on the derelict site.

The Parkstone Bay Association has called a meeting to discuss Crest Nicholson's plans to re-develop the Pitwines site for housing. The association intends gathering the views of locals in order to demand answers before any work is carried out.

Baiter representative David Howard wants detailed information about exactly how the toxic legacy of the former industrial site is to be recovered and removed.

"What sort of effect is all this going to have on Poole and people living nearby? All we hear is that the danger will be minimal and 'don't worry'," he said.

Mr Howard points out that the underground aquifer, which drains into Poole harbour, is also at potential risk if anything goes wrong.

"No one is telling us about the 'what if' scenario. What if it proves too dangerous or too expensive to clear the site?

"No one really knows what is buried on that site. The separator tank is where the real oily crud is - and that's lethal."

Poole council's consumer protection team manager, Jeff Morley, said the developer had submitted an environmental impact statement, which is now being analysed.

He said: "They also need to do an investigation to decide what is actually there and what is not and how they intend to carry out the remediation work."

He said the council would check to ensure enough samples are taken to give an accurate picture of the contaminants that will be disturbed by any development. And he said the public would be able to scrutinise plans relating to the clearing of the site.

A Crest Nicholson spokesman confirmed an investigation of the site needs to take place before the company can say how it intends to progress its plans.

A public meeting to discuss the issue has been arranged by the Parkstone Bay Association at the Old Town Community Centre, in Lagland Street, starting at 7.15pm on Wednesday.