EVIDENCE that youngsters have been using the contaminated grounds of a former Ilkley tuberculosis sanatorium as a playground has horrified parish councillors.

They are worried that curious children or youths could be putting themselves in danger by roaming around the site of the former Middleton Hospital.

Parish councillor Mike Exley said he had made several alarming discoveries while examining the site.

"The top of fencing which surrounds one particular area on the site was bent at the top, as if people had been climbing over it. I also saw home-made swings in the trees and evidence of football matches," said Coun Exley.

The issue of contamination was raised at Monday evening's meeting of Ilkley parish council's planning committee.

Coun Exley said: "It is an absolute disgrace." He said it was unacceptable the contamination issue should still be a grave concern more than a decade after the hospital closed its doors.

He said some of the former hospital drains were still running freely and queried why the remaining buildings had not been boarded up.

Site owners, the Northern and Yorkshire Regional Health Authority, carried out a clean-up operation in 1995 but the issue has refused to die.

Numerous vials, allegedly discovered at the site have been discovered, one even being posted to the Ilkley Gazette office two years ago.

The onus is now on would-be developers to carry out further contamination work. One firm has already submitted an application to do just that, but is awaiting the report of an inspector from the Environment Department.

Also concerned is Coun Amanda Clarke, the mother of a former Westville House pupil. She fears the issue could remain unresolved if developers were put off by the costs involved.

Coun Clarke said the emphasis on a more 'modest' development for the site, may put developers off because the limited number of houses they would be allowed to build would not be in proportion with the cost, time and effort needed to remove contaminated soil.

"We have heard about contamination being low risk in this case. It should not be low risk it should be no risk," she said.

Charles Holloway, head teacher of neighbouring Westville House School, said: "I am aware of the contamination of the site. I am, however, confident that the measures undertaken by the Health Authority, on whose land the contaminated area lies, are more than adequate to avoid any dangers to passers by, let alone children playing on the Westville House School playground."

"The contaminated area is at least 200 metres from the school and slopes away from the school. I understand that, when the site is redeveloped, a move which I fully support, contamination will be safely removed and disposed of by the contractors," said Mr Holloway.

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