Maidenhead & Windsor

The second interim report on air quality monitoring in and around Maidenhead's Ray Lea Close again shows there is no concern for public health.

The Maidenhead monitoring at 18 homes adjacent to Badnell's Pit followed the identification of trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene in soils at the pit edge. However, both the initial snapshot survey by independent consultants in four homes nearest the site in April and the first full monitoring report in June found no cause for concern. Now the July report shows similar results.

The independent consultants doing the monitoring say "no action is needed to protect public health at this stage and the results indicate there is no significant migration of pollutants from the soil gas". The information has been shared with local Maidenhead residents by the Royal Borough's environmental health team.

The air quality report showed that all measured concentrations of trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene were below the absolute thresholds for long-term exposure. While the level of benzene at two homes was above the lower absolute threshold, this was likely due to a "variety of sources such as traffic emissions and cooking." The report also says that smoking could also contribute to the higher levels of benzene.

Jonathan James, Maidenhead council's project manager for Badnell's Pit, said the results were again as expected and should be of great reassurance to local residents. He explained: "Our consultants always considered the risk to be very low and these findings are further proof that there is no danger to residents' health."

Final monitoring results will be produced in the early autumn.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead