Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Environmental Statement Melksham Link canal Appendix 11.2 APPENDIX 11.2 LAND CONTAMINATION DESK STUDY AND SITE SURVEY WBCT/NPA/10653 NICHOLAS PEARSON ASSOCIATES Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Environmental Statement Melksham Link canal Appendix 11.2 WBCT/NPA/10653 NICHOLAS PEARSON ASSOCIATES Client: Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Site: The Melksham Link Report Title: Land Contamination Desk Study and Site Survey Report No.: 3026_01 Prepared by: Paul Godbold BSc MSc FGS Date: 14 January 2016 Version 1.2 FINAL BOLD Environmental Ltd has prepared this document in accordance with the instructions of the client, Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, for their sole and specific use. Any other persons who use any information contained herein do so at their own risk. © BOLD Environmental Ltd 2015 Suite 132, 3 Edgar Buildings, George Street, Bath, BA1 2FJ Tel: 01225 667055 www.boldenvironmental.co.uk BOLD Environmental Ltd BOLD Environmental Ltd Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Terms of Reference ................................................................................................ 5 1.2 Objectives ............................................................................................................... 5 1.3 Scope and Methodology ......................................................................................... 5 2 Site Location and Site Reconnaissance ......................................................................... 7 2.1 Site Details ............................................................................................................. 7 2.2 Site Reconnaissance .............................................................................................. 7 2.2.1 AREA A: Melksham – Urban ......................................................................... 8 2.2.2 AREA B: Melksham - Rural ......................................................................... 10 2.2.3 AREA C: Berryfield to Semington ............................................................... 12 3 Historical Land Use ...................................................................................................... 14 3.1 Ordnance Survey Maps ........................................................................................ 14 3.2 AREA A: Melksham – Urban: Historical Land Use ................................................ 14 3.3 AREA B: Melksham – Rural: Historical Land Use ................................................. 19 3.4 AREA C: Berryfield to Semington: Historical Land Use ......................................... 21 4 Regulatory Review ....................................................................................................... 25 4.1 Authorisations and Consents ................................................................................ 25 4.2 Environmental Permits, Incidents and Registers ................................................... 25 4.2.1 AREA A: Melksham – Urban ....................................................................... 25 4.2.2 AREA B: Melksham – Rural ......................................................................... 27 4.2.3 AREA C: Berryfield to Semington ............................................................... 28 4.3 Hydrology and Discharge Consents ...................................................................... 29 4.3.1 Discharge Consents ....................................................................................... 30 4.4 Abstraction Licences ............................................................................................. 31 5 Geology and Hydrogeology .......................................................................................... 32 5.1 Geology ................................................................................................................ 32 5.2 Hydrogeology ........................................................................................................ 33 5.2.1 Aquifer Designation........................................................................................ 33 5.3 Source Protection Zones....................................................................................... 34 5.4 Groundwater Vulnerability and Soil Leaching Potential ......................................... 34 5.5 Flooding ................................................................................................................ 35 5.6 Designated Environmentally Sensitive Areas ........................................................ 35 Land Contamination Desk Study & Site Survey 14 January 2016 Melksham Canal Link Page 2 of 60 BOLD Environmental Ltd 6 Mining Review ............................................................................................................. 36 6.1 Mining History ....................................................................................................... 36 6.2 Natural Ground Hazards ....................................................................................... 36 7 Contamination Risk Assessment .................................................................................. 37 7.1 Conceptual Model ................................................................................................. 37 7.2 Potential Sources of Contamination ...................................................................... 37 7.3 Potential Pathways for Contamination................................................................... 45 7.4 Potential Receptors of Contamination ................................................................... 45 7.5 Risk Estimation and Risk Evaluation ..................................................................... 46 7.6 Site Specific Contamination Risk Assessment ...................................................... 47 7.6.1 Contamination Risk Assessment Comments.................................................. 53 7.7 Concluding Comments .......................................................................................... 55 7.8 Recommendations ................................................................................................ 57 8 Closure ........................................................................................................................ 59 9 References .................................................................................................................. 60 Figures FIGURE 1 Site Location Map: ‘The Melksham Link’ FIGURE 2 ‘The Route’: Descriptive Areas FIGURE 3 ‘The Route’: AREA A FIGURE 4 ‘The Route’: AREA B FIGURE 5 ‘The Route’: AREA C Land Contamination Desk Study & Site Survey 14 January 2016 Melksham Canal Link Page 3 of 60 BOLD Environmental Ltd Appendices APPENDIX A Site Reconnaissance Photographs APPENDIX B Historical Maps – AREA A APPENDIX C Historical Maps – AREA B APPENDIX D Historical Maps – AREA C APPENDIX E Regulatory Review – AREA A APPENDIX F Regulatory Review – AREA B APPENDIX G Regulatory Review – AREA C APPENDIX H Contaminated Land Risk Assessment Matrix Land Contamination Desk Study & Site Survey 14 January 2016 Melksham Canal Link Page 4 of 60 BOLD Environmental Ltd 1 Introduction 1.1 Terms of Reference BOLD Environmental Limited (BOLD) was instructed by the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust (WBCT) to carry out a Land Contamination Desk Study and Site Survey (Contamination Risk Assessment) for the proposed development of ‘The Melksham Link’ a new canal waterway between the River Avon at Melksham, and the Kennet & Avon Canal at Semington. The Melksham Link development also includes redevelopment of an existing stretch of the River Avon through Melksham; which extends from the footbridge over the ‘Melksham Loop’ watercourse where it enter the River Avon at the Melksham Adventure Centre (upstream of the town weir), to a proposed new canal junction with the River Avon to the west of the A350 Challymead Bridge (a distance of approximately 1.1km). The new canal junction marks the commencement of the new canal section; which extends approximately 3km south to Semington Bridge. Within this report, the overall development is hereafter referred to as ‘The Route’. 1.2 Objectives The objectives of the Contamination Risk Assessment were as follows: Determine the baseline Contamination Status for The Route; to establish whether or not The Route has been, or potentially could be, impacted by current or historic land uses; To identify any sources of potential environmental liability associated with The Route that may have implications for the proposed development; and Produce a Conceptual Model for The Route using the findings of the survey. Following completion; the outcome of the Contamination Risk Assessment would be used to inform the relevant sections of the Environmental Statement which will accompany the overall Planning Application for the development. 1.3 Scope and Methodology The scope of work was generally defined in correspondence by BOLD (reference letter T3003/PG/01 dated 12th May 2014); being broadly in accordance with the guidance of BS ISO 14015:20011. This report describes the findings of the assessment, and comments accordingly. The methodology adopted for the Contamination Risk Assessment was as follows: A Site Reconnaissance conducted in July 2014; which included a visual inspection of The Route to determine any physical evidence of contamination, or activities with the potential to give rise to contamination. An Assessment