A WORLD WAR TWO BUNKER, disused gas canisters and sheets of asbestos have been found around the future site of 42 homes in a south Bucks village, according to a councillor who has branded it “an accident waiting to happen”.
A plan has been approved by Wycombe District Council to build 42 homes on the West’s Yard site off Slough Lane in Saunderton, a former industrial site home to around 18 different businesses.
Long-time Saunderton resident and parish council member Mike Blackwell was told by a demolition worker that it was the most contaminated site he had seen in 30 years of work.
Mr Blackwell, who worked on the site for over two years in the late 1980s and now lives just one hundred metres away, believes West’s Yard poses a significant danger and addressed parish councillors on the subject at a meeting last week.
He said: “I can tell it is one because it is made out of reinforced, white concrete which was commonly used in the late 1930s.
“Nobody knew it was there until it was discovered by demolition workers three or four weeks ago.”
The entrance to the bunker is little more than 25 metres away from the train tracks and – as the full extent of the structure is yet to be discovered – Mr Blackwell worries it could cause a serious accident.
He added: “They have dug 15 foot down into the bunker at the moment, but from my experience it could be as deep as 25 foot.
“The rail only needs to drop a few inches and the train could come off the tracks – it could kill dozens of people.
“Kids can get onto the site easily and it is dangerous. It is an accident waiting to happen.”
On Tuesday a Geotechnical engineer from Network Rail visited the site and said, while there was “no immediate risk” to the tracks, the bunker could pose a potential risk in the future.
Developers Dandara admitted in a statement that there is “a great deal” of clean-up work required but building work is expected to start later this year.
The statement read: “We are working in compliance with HSE legislation. A remediation strategy will be carried out in line with strict rules and regulations.”
What's your view on the site? Email any comments or information to william.burton@london.newsquest.co.uk.
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