Worthing toxic homes shock

Several families living in Lennox Mews, just off Chapel Road, have discovered an investigation has found the land their homes were built on four years ago was not properly tested for contamination.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: "Before the homes were built there was a car garage, an MOT station, on the site.

"A company from Somerset have been here and tested and found the land was contaminated with low carbon, possibly from the oil and petrol."

The houses are run by Worthing Homes and most are part-owned, part rented.

Dead garden

Mum Helen Charman, 24, has lived in the mews for three years with her partner Damien Hodgson and daughter Jessica, six.

She said: "We were always suspicious of the garden because everything in it is dead.

"When we moved in we even found bits of cars in the garden.

"My daughter has been playing in the garden and all this time there has been something dangerous under the garden."

The residents say Environmental Health told them not to go in the gardens. And gardeners paid for maintenance have not been to the homes in months.

Environment survey

The problems came to light after someone tried to sell their Lennox Mews house and their solicitor picked up on a problem with the land search.

A Worthing Homes spokeswoman said: "The properties were a design and build contract we had with a developer and we, Worthing Homes, were of the understanding that all of the relevant test and planning permission conditions had been carried out by them.

Some oil tests have been taken and although they are not all back, those that are "did indicate some minor contamination".

"We have been assured by Environmental Health, and the soil specialists who have examined the samples that the contamination does not pose a serious risk to health and that it is safe to live there," she said.

Worthing Homes plans to meet with the residents to discuss the options to resolve the issues.

A longer version of this story appears in the Thursday, August 5 edition of the Worthing Herald.

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