'Magnetic anomalies' at Travellers’ site at Burn Airfield could be unexploded munitions - Yorkshire

From the Press

ALMOST 2,000 “magnetic anomalies” which could be unexploded munitions from the Second World War have been found during scans at a potential Travellers’ site near Selby.

Plans to create a new 15-pitch site at Burn Airfield were withdrawn by Selby District Council at the end of May, and resubmitted last week, after the authority discovered a vital certificate had not been issued by the council to the tenant on the land.

The resubmitted plans are now available to the public, and show a report by City of York Council’s Environment Protection Unit (EPU).

A letter from Selby council to the EPU, refers to a “non-intrusive survey report, which confirms that 1,931 magnetic anomalies were detected at the site. The report concludes that a targeted unexploded ordnance investigation of these anomalies is required”.

The EPU concluded that providing there was a thorough investigation of the site for potential contamination, not just from unexploded ammunition but from fuel spillages, asbestos or metals, it would not object in principle to the development.

The proposed 15-pitch site, at Burn Airfield, would effectively double the 12-pitch site already there, at an estimated cost of £940,000. But local residents have long been unhappy with the plans, as the village had been ruled out after earlier attempts to identify allocation.

Phil Storr, vice-chairman of Burn Parish Council, said despite the update there was little difference between the submissions.