Agenda item

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection. The City’s contaminated Land strategy fulfils the City of London’s statutory obligation to set out its wider approach to contaminated land and its inspection duties within the Square Mile.

A Member asked a question about Crossrail’s archaeological/contractors’ dig across the 16^th century burial grounds of Bedlam Hospital. Since many victims of the plague were buried with the disease following outbreaks over the centuries, cadaver's teeth would be examined for cause of death. In view of the findings of live plague bacteria in the burial ground of St. Luke's Church, Old Street in recent years, which was closed off whilst contamination was removed, the Member questioned at what stage was the City of London’s involvement with this potentially dangerous site central to City activity and what was the programme in place to protect the public over the lengthy period of Crossrail's works there. The Member further asked   whether Crossrail would be funding the related costs of officers' time and whatever precautionary safeguard measures were required.

The Port Health & Public Protection Director responded that plague contamination was not a problem and the Museum of London Archaeological Service, which carries this work regularly, had a licence. Furthermore, the bodies buried on the site were not in coffins which meant that any potential disease bacteria or viruses would not survive. 

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the proposal for the contaminated land inspection strategy to undergo external consultation until 25^th May 2015, subject to any comments received at the meeting. A further report would be presented to the Committee’s meeting on 22 September 2015 to approve the subsequent new strategy.