RESIDENTS in Canford Heath fear a housing development could release dangerous substances into the air.

Developers Savills have put in a planning application for 130 homes on the plot of land between the Dorset Way, Verity Crescent and Mitchell Road.

Nearby neighbours are concerned because about 30 years ago it was a dump for commercial and industrial waste and traces of asbestos have been found in the ground.

Residents Bob Harris, 62, from Scarf Road, said: "All sorts of things were dumped in there and people with young children are worried about what will come up and be put into the air."

Surveys have so far found items such as tin, glass, clay, metal waste and metal tanks along with asbestos.

People are also concerned about the number of houses proposed and the additional traffic it would bring to the area - particularly along the already busy Adastral Road and quiet Kellaway Road.

Ward councillors Graham Curtis and Sandra Moore will be handing out leaflets to let people know about the proposed development.

Cllr Curtis said: "It's a piece of land that should be left as it is. No-one has any idea what is in there and what would be dug up.

"Kellaway Road is a quite cul-de-sac and the developers are talking about 33 heavy loads a day going to the site - that's 66 journeys."

The land is now covered in grass and brambles, is home to wildlife including adders and deer and used by dogwalkers and children to play.

A planning inspector turned down plans from another developer, Poulton and Lockyer Ltd, for the site in 1988 for 94 houses. One of the reasons was contamination and that the presence of asbestos "could pose a threat to the health and safety of residents".

Savills withdrew an application for 250 houses on the site in 2001 to work on containing any contamination.

Robert Lotfthouse, senior planner at Savills, said: "Part of the application is to deal with the remediation of the land." He added: "Access on Kellaway Road is not going to create a significant highway safety danger."

Proposals for dealing with the land include putting a barrier into the ground to stop contamination leaking out of the site and capping - putting a layer of clay - over the area.

The plans for the site - which was a sandpit before it became a dump for about five years - are unlikely to be discussed before the New Year.

First published: November 11, 2005