Colnbrook School, Slough

VHE was awarded the work to remediate contaminated soils discovered at Colnbrook Primary School, Slough. Part of the site had been designated contaminated under Part 2A of the Environmental Act.

An area of school playing field, incorporating a vegetable garden, had been found to be contaminated resulting from the former use of the site as a gasworks. Key known and potential contaminants included:-

Lead
Total Cyanide
Free Cyanide
Benzo(a)anthracene
Benzo(a)pyrene
Di-benzo(ah)anthracene
Asbestos

The works were to excavate the contaminated soils, validate the area, and replace the soils with imported material. The works also included the construction of a new surfaced staff car park with associated landscaping and paving.

The remediation works were carried out during term time, with adjustment to the access road scheduled to be carried out during half term. Working on the site of a busy primary school gave us a unique set of constraints to work around.

The works had to be arranged to cause the least disruption to the staff, children and parents.
A number of children at the school were disabled. Access was of paramount importance.
Access to 2 outlying mobile classrooms and storage containers had to be maintained.
Emergency vehicular access had to be maintained along the site access road.
Some works were required to be carried out outside the main contractor’s fenced area.
The presence of very young children in close proximity the works.
Restrictions on timings of delivery vehicles.
The need for the school to maintain an adequate fire and emergency plan throughout the works.

The successful project did not only remove issue of gas works waste being present on site but also provided the school with much needed improved access and amenity provision with which they were very pleased.

VHE are one of the UK’s leading land remediation contractors that has a vast experience of working under Part 2A of the Environmental Act 1990. Feel free to contact us now on 01226 320150 to discuss your requirements.