Chemical contamination at a former RAF base earmarked for 9,000 homes is the worst found in the UK, a report has said. Testing at RAF Upper Heyford carried out on behalf of a developer found "unacceptable" levels of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), referred to as forever chemicals. Fears have been raised previously that the site could be the source of pollution in nearby waterways, after earlier testing by campaigners and the Environment Agency.
Paul Silver, chief executive of developer Dorchester Living, said separate soil samples taken from residential areas showed the area was "safe for use". PFAS are a group of thousands of man-made chemicals, some of which can cause cancer, which are often referred to as forever chemicals because they do not break down easily. The results of the site investigations were uploaded to Cherwell District Council's website as part of a planning application.
The author of the report said they were higher than the village of Bentham, Yorkshire, "determined as having the highest level of PFAS in the UK". The Environment Agency (EA) said military sites and airports were hotspots for PFAS, which were used extensively in firefighting foams for decades. At RAF Upper Heyford, firefighters would practice putting out an aeroplane set on fire above a "pond" of fuel.
This training area was found to be "the most significant ongoing source of PFAS contamination identified". Another report into ground and surface water found contamination was "widespread" at the site, with all samples exceeding environmental standards. Subsequent independent testing by Gallos Brook Environmental Group found elevated levels of the chemicals in more than a dozen streams that flow from beneath the base.
The results have prompted concerns from residents about existing and approved developments near the site, including a primary school. Groundwater and surface water results from the school site in another report showed PFAS exceeded safe levels by environmental quality standards. Calum Miller, MP for Bicester and Woodstock, said: "The most important thing is to understand fully what level of contamination, if any, there is in that area.
"And in the case of a primary school that people have real confidence that it's a safe environment for children." The BBC has spoken to residents living near the site who would like their blood tested to determine if they have been disproportionately exposed. One of them, Leigh Radwell, said she was concerned for her health after eating vegetables from her garden. She said: "My little countryside haven and my dream of growing my own veg and having chickens and supporting wildlife is ruined.
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