A BBC investigation has uncovered that thousands of toxic sites across Britain remain unchecked by local councils, potentially putting public health at risk.
According to data obtained via a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, only 1,465 of 13,093 high-risk sites identified by councils have been physically inspected. This means that more than 11,000 potentially hazardous areas—which may contain substances like lead, arsenic, and other dangerous chemicals—have never been tested.
Councils Cite Lack of Funding for Contaminated Land Inspections
Under the Environmental Protection Act, councils are required to identify and inspect high-risk contaminated sites to ensure they do not pose a danger to people or property.
However, local authorities argue that budget cuts have made inspections impossible. Out of the 122 unitary councils in England, Scotland, and Wales, only 73 responded to the BBC’s FOI request. The findings suggest that since the early 2000s, councils have identified around 430,000 potential contaminated sites, yet most remain unexamined.
In Wales alone, councils have flagged 698 high-risk sites, but 586 remain untested—raising concerns about pollution exposure in residential areas.
Hidden Dangers: The Legacy of Industrial Pollution
Contaminated land includes areas previously used as factories, power stations, railway lines, petrol stations, or landfill sites. While modern planning laws require contamination checks on post-2000 developments, many older properties lack safeguards, leaving residents exposed to potentially toxic environments.
One such area is Cwmystwyth in North Ceredigion, Wales, home to more than 400 abandoned metal mines. The region’s rivers—Ystwyth, Rheidol, and Clarach—are among the most polluted in the UK, with high levels of zinc, cadmium, and lead.
Resident Robin Morris, who installed a filtration system for his water supply, was alarmed when soil samples from his garden revealed dangerously high levels of lead—well above the recommended safe limit.
“In light of these findings, we should have stopped growing vegetables long ago,” Morris said.
Lead Poisoning: A Silent but Deadly Threat
Experts warn that lead exposure poses severe health risks, especially for children and vulnerable adults. Dr. Ian Mudway, an environmental toxicologist at Imperial College London, stressed that lead contamination can lead to cognitive impairments in children and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in adults.
“Nothing is more of a forever chemical than lead,” Dr. Mudway stated.
“This is a hazard that has not gone away—it remains a clear and present danger to public health.”
For some, the consequences of contamination have been devastating. Manon Chiswell, now 20, was mistakenly believed to be autistic as a toddler after suddenly losing her ability to speak. However, tests later revealed high levels of lead in her blood. Her father, Huw Chiswell, suspects she was poisoned by contaminated soil near their home, which was close to an old industrial site.
“She used to eat earth in the garden as a toddler,” he recalled. “Once she stopped, she got better.”
Call for Action: Campaigners Demand Stronger Regulations
Campaigners are now pushing for “Zane’s Law”, named after seven-year-old Zane Gbangbola, who died from toxic gas exposure in 2014 after the River Thames flooded a landfill site near his home. His parents are demanding that councils be legally required to maintain a public register of contaminated sites and be given more funding to carry out inspections.
“You have to know that contamination exists before you can protect yourself,” said Zane’s father, Kye Gbangbola, who was left paralyzed by the same gas exposure.
Government and Councils Clash Over Responsibility
The UK government maintains that local authorities have a statutory duty to inspect potentially contaminated land, remediate affected areas, and keep public records of cleaned-up sites.
However, councils argue that funding cuts have crippled their ability to carry out this work. The Welsh Local Government Association admitted that while councils take their duties seriously, inspections have become “increasingly constrained by a lack of dedicated funding and specialist resources.”
Former Newcastle contamination officer Phil Hartley revealed that many councils have stopped proactively identifying toxic sites due to the financial risks involved.
“Since the money dried up, very few councils look for contaminated land because they don’t want the responsibility of fixing it,” he explained.
What’s Next? The Future of Contaminated Land Checks
As public pressure mounts and campaigners push for tighter regulations, the UK government has tasked the Environment Agency with producing a new report on contaminated land. This is expected to provide a baseline for future policies and help determine the extent of toxic pollution across Britain.
Until then, millions of people could unknowingly be living on contaminated land, with little to no oversight from local authorities. With councils struggling to keep up with inspections, campaigners insist that without urgent action, public health will remain at risk.
