WORK has started to decontaminate a site used as an unauthorised dump at a city park.

The Environment Agency launched an investigation following allegations the city council and its contractors deposited waste without a permit at the former tree nursery within Westminster Park.

Now work has begun to take away the old soil, which may contain non-hazardous waste such as broken glass, and replace it with clean soil.

Simon Lammond, operations manager with Chester City Council, said the work would be on going until February 25 involving heavy machinery and would result in an increase in traffic through the Lache Lane entrance to the site during the week.

In the Friends of Westminster Park newsletter, Paul Makin OBE, a former Health & Safety Executive inspector, alleged the former tree nursery was used as a waste tip in 2004.

Mr Makin, of Cavendish Road, who received an OBE for services to machinery safety, claimed that when the site was designated as a wooded area the rubbish was raked to the surface “including glass and perhaps needles.”

He added: “Unfortunately this summer the powers that be in the council decided that it would be a good thing to sow the area with grass seed and call it a long grass area – hiding the rubbish.

“All this time the Friends were demanding that the rubbish be removed but on receipt of the final ‘long grass’ decision we contacted the Environment Agency who have decided the waste should be removed.”

Mr Makin, who said he could not divulge more detail due to legal reasons, added: “What is certain is that we ratepayers will have to bear the cost of an expensive waste removal exercise and possibly a hefty fine.”

Deputy city council leader Stephen Mosley said problems predated the current Tory administration which took control last May. He anticipated the work would cost less than £100,000.