§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have now been taken to prevent public access to polluted land at Ropers and Trumpions Farm, Barking Magna, Essex, pending final assessment of the risk to public health, to avoid further pollution of the land by improved methods of sewage treatment, and to remove existing pollution to ensure restoration of the land to full agricultural use.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsThese farms cover some 145 acres and I am not aware of any general risk to health which would warrant special precautions; South end Corporation are acting on medical advice and if soil tests show patches where restrictions on access would be advisable, I am assured that they will at once take appropriate measures.
Improved methods of sewage disposal have been under consideration for some time, but new or extended works have to take into account the sewerage requirements for new development in the area. These are likely to be affected by the Third London Airport.
Remedial measures for agricultural purposes will be decided as soon as the results of the present tests are known. This, however, must await the harvesting and analysis of crops at present being grown there.